Politics · Germany · 15 hrs ago
Reichinnek backs planned student protests across Germany
Left Party parliamentary leader Heidi Reichinnek defended planned student protests across Germany, saying young people want their concerns heard.
She said protesters are calling for more affordable lives, better education, climate protection, fairer distribution of wealth and income, and opposition to conscription.
Reichinnek criticized what she called efforts to criminalize the protests, including a call from the Young Union's Berlin-Mitte branch for military assistance to stop them.
The Berlin state branch said that call did not represent its position.
The initiative Gen Z regelt has announced demonstrations on Saturday in 34 cities, including Berlin, Hamburg, Munich and Frankfurt, and says it rejects violence.
Some people fear clashes like those at similar protests in France.
Reichinnek pledged the Left Party's support for Gen Z and the other participants.
Heidi Reichinnek, the Left Party’s parliamentary group leader, backed planned student protests across Germany and criticised efforts to portray them as a security threat.
The protests are planned for Saturday afternoon in 34 cities, according to the organising initiative, “Gen Z regelt.”
The initiative says demonstrators are calling for affordable living, better education, climate protection and fairer distribution of wealth and income, and opposing conscription.
Reichinnek said the protests were intended to help young people make their voices heard and gain participation in decisions.
A local branch of the Young Union called for the Bundeswehr to help stop the protests, but the Berlin organisation said this was not its position.
- Who
- Students are expected to protest, with the initiative “Gen Z regelt” calling for demonstrations. Left Party politician Heidi Reichinnek has expressed support.
- What
- Planned student protests against conscription and for affordable living, better education, climate protection and fairer distribution of wealth and income.
- When
- Saturday afternoon; the article was published on October 30, 2026.
- Where
- Demonstrations are planned in 34 German cities, including Berlin, Hamburg, Munich and Frankfurt.
- Why
- The initiative’s stated demands include affordable living, better education, climate protection and fairer distribution of wealth and income, as well as opposition to conscription.
Heidi Reichinnek
Berlin-Mitte branch of the Young Union
Characterisation of the protests
Heidi Reichinnek
Reichinnek said the protests are peaceful and that young people want their concerns heard.
Berlin-Mitte branch of the Young Union
The Berlin-Mitte branch called for the Bundeswehr to be asked to help stop the protests.
The Berlin-Mitte branch of the Young Union called on social media for the Bundeswehr to help stop the protests.
The Berlin organisation of the Young Union said the call was not the position of its state organisation.
Demonstrations are planned in 34 cities, according to “Gen Z regelt.
- Organising initiative
- Gen Z regelt
- Planned demonstrations
- 34 cities
- Named cities
- Berlin, Hamburg, Munich and Frankfurt
- Protest timing
- Saturday afternoon
- Reichinnek's party
- The Left Party
What people are saying
Young people are taking to the streets because they want their lives to finally become affordable again.
They are demanding nothing that should not be self-evident.
They want to make their voices heard and have a say.
It is not the youth that is the problem, but politics!