Katja Kipping, leader of left-wing party, Die Linke, said in an interview with Welt am Sonntag that a summer getaway was a basic right for everyone – including those who can’t afford one.
Kipping estimated that one in five Germans can’t afford to go away on their vacations. The 36-year-old said holiday vouchers should be used to address that.
“All people on low incomes – on benefits and housing benefits – should get vouchers which they can redeem for holidays,” she said.
Kipping added the vouchers should be worth around €500 a year and be redeemable in youth hostels, on trains or in travel agents.
She also called for more to be done to help children enjoy a holiday.
“We should give children two weeks free vacation at summer camps or holiday camps,” she said, indirectly referencing the state-organized holidays citizens were sent on in the GDR.
Kipping added that around two million children in Germany would not be enjoying a summer vacation this year.
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