BSW
Sahra Wagenknecht presents her party and its program
Sahra Wagenknecht has left the Left after years of conflict over direction. photo
© Kay Nietfeld/dpa
Two and a half months ago, the member of the Bundestag broke with the Left Party. Now your competing project is ready to start. The new party has 1.4 million euros in starting capital.
Wagenknecht and nine other members of the Bundestag resigned from the Left in October after years of disagreement. The Sahra Wagenknecht alliance was initially founded as an association to prepare the party. According to preliminary calculations, the association has collected 1.4 million euros in starting capital for the party, as BSW treasurer Ralph Suikat told the Germany editorial network.
The RND reported that around 90 percent of the donations were small amounts. A dozen donations would be over 10,000 euros. A total of 12,500 euros came from abroad, of which less than 5,000 euros came from non-EU countries. Two donations totaling 75 euros were received from Russia. Critics accuse Wagenknecht of being close to Russia. However, Wagenknecht emphasizes that meticulous checks are being made to ensure that no Russian money flows to the BSW.
BSW is supposed to be a “reputable address” for AfD voters
As a party, the BSW will probably have dual leadership. Wagenknecht brought the former left-wing faction leader Amira Mohamed Ali into discussion. Wagenknecht recently indicated that she could also become part of the top duo. The first federal party conference is planned for January 27th in Berlin.
The new party wants to run for the first time in the European elections in June. A candidacy is also planned for the state elections in East Germany in September. In an Insa survey for “Bild” in December, the BSW received 12 percent nationwide – since the party had not yet been founded and the official program was unknown, these survey values are associated with particular uncertainties.
Politically, Wagenknecht represents left-wing positions in economic and social policy – for example, she calls for greater taxation of high incomes and assets. When it comes to migration, Russia and social policy, their demands are sometimes similar to those of the AfD. On migration, for example, their message is: “Germany is overwhelmed, Germany has no more space, Germany is no longer prepared to be the number one destination.”
In her own words, Wagenknecht also sees her party as a “reputable address” for AfD voters. She has ruled out working with the far-right party. According to her own statements, she is aiming for government participation and could possibly imagine coalitions with the Left or the SPD. However, she describes the Greens as the “most dangerous party” in the Bundestag.