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Thuringia: Civilian economy is required instead of arms production!
Andreas Schubert and Katja Wolf criticize the arms industry in Thuringia and call for civilian economic approaches for the future.
Thuringia: Civilian economy is required instead of arms production!
On October 29, 2025, an important meeting took place in the Thuringian state parliament in which the motion “Rearmament is not an opportunity for Thuringia, but short-sighted and dangerous - only civilian business can shape the future” was discussed. The economic policy spokesman for the Die Linke faction, Andreas Schubert, was critical of the state government, which presents arms production as an economic opportunity. Schubert described this course as a “dangerous wrong path” and called for a clear focus on peace and sustainability. Referring to the peace requirement of the Thuringian constitution, he emphasized that rearmament has no constitutional basis to be considered an economic opportunity. Rather, only a social-ecological transformation is the key to real sustainability.
Schubert made it clear that the upgrade would tie up resources and skilled workers that are needed for urgently needed projects such as climate protection and social infrastructure. Among other things, his application calls for no support for defense companies in Thuringia and the orientation of university research towards civilian purposes. In addition, a conversion concept will be presented in order to convert existing military production to civilian goods.
Resistance to arms investments
Wolf criticizes the fact that arms production cannot have a positive influence on the stability of Thuringia's industry or the necessary structural change. She referred to the money that was earmarked for corporate investments and the transformation of industry in the 2026/27 double budget. Instead, she demands that industry in East Germany must rely on low energy prices and good employment standards in order to remain sustainable.
The political debate in context
Sahra Wagenknecht, a prominent voice on the left and founder of the BSW, was also critical of the militarization of Germany and the development of a war economy. She describes the begging for arms money by several CDU prime ministers as “embarrassing” and calls for election promises to be fully fulfilled, especially with regard to energy prices and existing industrial jobs.
It remains to be seen how these political shifts will affect industry and the labor market in Thuringia. However, it is clear that resistance to rearmament and the emphasis on civilian economies is increasingly at the forefront. At a time when peace and sustainability are becoming increasingly important, it is clear that Thuringia's move away from arms investments towards civil solutions is more necessary than ever.