"I Almost Fell Off My Chair" - Jan van Aken, the Left Party Chair's Rheinmetall Share Saga
Jan Aken reveals his stake in Rheinmetall
Written by Hubertus Volmer, Chemnitz
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Eight years back, Jan van Aken, chairman of the German Left Party, snagged a couple of Rheinmetall shares, not exactly as a shrewd investment. But these humble 150 euros transformed into a solid 3200 euros over the years!
Addressing more than 500 delegates at the Left Party conference in Chemnitz, van Aken shared his story behind these surprising shares, highlighting how arms companies gain from the government's defense plans. He also emphasized the need for excess profits tax on companies like Rheinmetall[1][3][4].
He clarified, "These shares weren't an investment. You need shares to make clever comments at shareholder meetings or create a little nonsense." Van Aken disclosed that he doesn't hold any shares personally, making this admission following earlier misunderstandings[1][3].
Van Aken voiced his outrage that arms companies profit from wars and human sufferings. He placed an urgent call for imposing an excess profit tax on such firms, asserting that profit-making should never come at the expense of others' distress[1][3][4].
Bowyong, Rheinmetall's growth has been staggering, recording an astronomical 46% boost in sales to a whopping 2.3 billion euros in the first quarter of 2025 itself, due to increased defense budgets and heightened demand for military equipment[1][3].
These developments fuel discussions about the arms industry's ethical dimension and influence ongoing debates on defense policies in Germany, with van Aken's comments and the party's symbolic shareholding serving as a microcosm of broader concerns[1][3][4].
Trivia:
- Rheinmetall shares were initially acquired at approximately 180 euros.
- They are now worth a substantial profit of around 3200 euros.
- The Left Party suggests introducing an excess profit tax on arms manufacturing companies.
- Rheinmetall has experienced unprecedented growth, with revenues expanding by 46% in the initial quarter of 2025[1][3].
[1] ntv.de
- The Left Party
- German Defense Policy
- Friedrich Merz
- Chemnitz
- Party Congress
- In light of Jan van Aken's unexpected profit from Rheinmetall shares, discussions about employment policy, particularly vocational training, could be beneficial for EC countries, ensuring their citizens can participate in the growing arms industry or other businesses.
- The sudden rise in Rheinmetall's profits, as shown by van Aken's shares, raises questions in the general-news and politics realms about the appropriate level of finance for businesses like these and the ethical dimension of their operations.
