Heidi Reichinnek (37), the head of the Left Party’s parliamentary group, was the only member of the German Bundestag to display her tattoos in such a public manner.

Heidi Reichinnek became well-known on social media for her scathing remarks on CDU leader Friedrich Merz. She has served as the spokesperson for the Left Party’s unexpected resurgence since the federal election.

With so many tattoos, the Saxony-Anhalt parliamentary group leader further demonstrates her radicalism! Reichinnek states, “My skin also reflects my personal story.” She just added two new pieces of art, which she described in an Anne Will podcast (59).

Rosa Luxemburg’s portrait on the arm

It includes a photo of Rosa Luxemburg, a socialist icon who is still regarded as a labour movement figure across the world despite being killed by right-wing Freikorps in 1919. The Luxemburg quotation is paired with the portrait: “Your ‘order’ is built on sand.”

“She was persecuted, oppressed, and imprisoned due to her political beliefs, but she never lost her humanity,” Reichinnek said. She only demonstrated that there are people behind politics, which is why we are all here, and for that reason she is my role model. We want to accomplish something for others, not as a goal in itself. Having her on my arm is really essential to me.

It’s also obvious that Reichinnek has a soft spot for animals: “I even tattooed my former cat.” She’s also already gotten an otter tattooed. “The only reason they have a negative reputation is because of ‘The Lion King.'” a hyena is also planned. They’re kind creatures, though. My group sponsored a hyena for me.

She also has a picture of the Egyptian queen Nefertiti—clad in a gas mask—on her left arm. For the skilled Middle East specialist, who lived in Cairo from September 2010 to June 2011 and saw the onset of the Arab Spring firsthand, the tattoo represents a turning point in time.

Reichinnek and her “arm of politics”

On TikTok, Reichinnek put it this way: “On the one hand, it symbolises the role of women, but also the role of these people who were so incredibly frustrated, who said: ‘We are taking to the streets now, no matter what happens.'”

The illustrations’ constant use of red and black complemented the self-described rock and metal enthusiast’s appearance. On her left “political arm,” as she refers to it on TikTok, they are especially noticeable.

The Left Party lawmaker has the most visible tattoo display of any member of the Bundestag. She did, however, also discuss with “Bunte” other tattoos that are concealed in the course of daily politics.