The association around the former left-wing politician Wagenknecht has now officially founded its party. The “Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance” is led by a dual leadership and wants to take part in the European elections for the first time.
The “Alliance Sahra Wagenknecht” was officially founded as the party “Alliance Sahra Wagenknecht – for Reason and Justice” (BSW). At the beginning of the founding meeting in a Berlin hotel, Bundestag member Sahra Wagenknecht said that it was “a bit of a historic day” that “we are laying the foundation for a party that has the potential to fundamentally change the spectrum of German parties and, above all, the “To fundamentally change politics in our country.” The founding itself took place behind closed doors.
Wagenknecht said she and her colleagues founded the new party to overcome “incompetence and arrogance” in Berlin government policy. Especially with a view to the situation in East Germany, there are repeated warnings about a threat to democracy. But this confuses cause and effect. Because many people felt let down by politics.
Wagenknecht and Mohamed Ali as dual leadership
The party’s program initially wants to be based on the founding manifesto of the association of the same name, as Wagenknecht further said. A detailed program should be developed with the members and experts by the federal election in 2025.
The BSW is chaired by a dual leadership, which includes Sahra Wagenknecht and the former head of the left-wing faction in the Bundestag, Amira Mohamed Ali. Vice Chairman is entrepreneur and university professor Shervin Haghsheno; Christian Leye, member of the Bundestag, takes over the post of Secretary General.
De Masi and Geisel lead BSW in the European elections
A more detailed party program should now be drawn up by the next federal election, in close consultation with experts, said Wagenknecht. The BSW will take part in the European elections for the first time in June. The former left-wing politician Fabio De Masi and the long-time SPD politician Thomas Geisel are expected to lead the party into the vote as the top candidates.
The BSW will then take part in state elections for the first time in the fall in Thuringia, Saxony and Brandenburg. Party researchers believe that Wagenknecht and the other 43 founding members will be able to attract a larger proportion of protest voters and, among other things, steal votes from the AfD, which is currently strong in polls.
The club collected 1.4 million euros in donations as start-up capital
Wagenknecht and nine other members of the Bundestag left the Left party in October. The Sahra Wagenknecht alliance was initially founded as an association to prepare the party. She collected 1.4 million euros in donations as start-up capital for the party, as BSW treasurer Ralph Suikat told the editorial network Germany.
According to Secretary General Leye, the alliance’s first party conference is scheduled to take place on January 27th.