BERLIN, June 20 (Reuters) - Germany's far-left Left party ('Die Linke') has drafted its manifesto for September's federal election on Saturday and is expected to formally endorse it on Sunday. Following are the main points:
COALITIONS
- The Left party is not expected to be in a coalition with any of the other four parties in parliament. All other parties have ruled out a coalition with the party that traces its roots to East Germany's Communist SED party.
- The Left hopes a strong result can prevent a Christian Democrat (CDU)-Liberal Democrat (FDP) coalition and influence the government's policies.
LABOUR MARKET
- The Left party wants to introduce a minimum wage of 10 euros per hour. Germany has no national minimum wage.
- Job protection rules should be expanded and the Hartz IV welfare system abolished.
- The government's 'Kurzarbeit' support for workers idled by the downturn and unemployment benefits should be expanded.
INVESTMENTS
- The Left party wants spending to create 2 million jobs.
- It wants annual investments of 100 billion euros ($139.2 billion) for health care, education, climate protection, and infrastructure.
TAXES
- The Left wants tax reform that includes a 'redistribution from the top to the bottom'.
- Only incomes of more than 12,000 euros per year should be taxed and the top tax rate should be raised to 53 from 45 percent.
- The Left wants to introduce a 'Millionaire's Tax' on private wealth, an inheritance tax, and a bourse turnover tax.
ECONOMY
- Private banks should be nationalised and financial markets strictly regulated.
- Employees should have a larger stake in their companies. Mass layoffs at firms not facing insolvency should be banned.
- The privatisation of public authorities should be ended. Transport and utilities should be stay in public sector control.
PENSIONS AND HEALTHCARE
- The Left wants to reform state pension system to include contributions from those now exempted: self-employed people, civil servants and politicians.
- The rise in retirement age to 67 from 65 to be rescinded.
- Supplemental health care payments should be scrapped.
FAMILIES
- The Left wants to cost-free child care. State-funded parent leave should be extended to 24 months from 14.
FOREIGN AND DEFENCE POLICY
- The Left wants to end foreign deployment of military forces and German troops in Afghanistan should be recalled.
- NATO should be replaced with a 'collective security system that includes Russia'.
- The Left wants to abolish conscription and reform the army into a purely defence force.
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(Reporting by Thorsten Servin, writing by Erik Kirschbaum) ($1=.7183 Euros) Keywords: GERMANY LEFT (erik.kirschbaum@reuters.com; Reuters Messaging: erik.kirschbaum.reuters.com@reuters.net; 49 30 2888 5217) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
COALITIONS
- The Left party is not expected to be in a coalition with any of the other four parties in parliament. All other parties have ruled out a coalition with the party that traces its roots to East Germany's Communist SED party.
- The Left hopes a strong result can prevent a Christian Democrat (CDU)-Liberal Democrat (FDP) coalition and influence the government's policies.
LABOUR MARKET
- The Left party wants to introduce a minimum wage of 10 euros per hour. Germany has no national minimum wage.
- Job protection rules should be expanded and the Hartz IV welfare system abolished.
- The government's 'Kurzarbeit' support for workers idled by the downturn and unemployment benefits should be expanded.
INVESTMENTS
- The Left party wants spending to create 2 million jobs.
- It wants annual investments of 100 billion euros ($139.2 billion) for health care, education, climate protection, and infrastructure.
TAXES
- The Left wants tax reform that includes a 'redistribution from the top to the bottom'.
- Only incomes of more than 12,000 euros per year should be taxed and the top tax rate should be raised to 53 from 45 percent.
- The Left wants to introduce a 'Millionaire's Tax' on private wealth, an inheritance tax, and a bourse turnover tax.
ECONOMY
- Private banks should be nationalised and financial markets strictly regulated.
- Employees should have a larger stake in their companies. Mass layoffs at firms not facing insolvency should be banned.
- The privatisation of public authorities should be ended. Transport and utilities should be stay in public sector control.
PENSIONS AND HEALTHCARE
- The Left wants to reform state pension system to include contributions from those now exempted: self-employed people, civil servants and politicians.
- The rise in retirement age to 67 from 65 to be rescinded.
- Supplemental health care payments should be scrapped.
FAMILIES
- The Left wants to cost-free child care. State-funded parent leave should be extended to 24 months from 14.
FOREIGN AND DEFENCE POLICY
- The Left wants to end foreign deployment of military forces and German troops in Afghanistan should be recalled.
- NATO should be replaced with a 'collective security system that includes Russia'.
- The Left wants to abolish conscription and reform the army into a purely defence force.
((For a related news story, click on))
(Reporting by Thorsten Servin, writing by Erik Kirschbaum) ($1=.7183 Euros) Keywords: GERMANY LEFT (erik.kirschbaum@reuters.com; Reuters Messaging: erik.kirschbaum.reuters.com@reuters.net; 49 30 2888 5217) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.