New Party Proposes Solutions to Rescue Germany from AfD, Reports Reuters

By Thomas Escritt

BERLIN – In a bid to counter the rise of the far right, a new leftist party has emerged in Germany with a populist agenda promising higher pensions, reduced defense spending, and a halt to costly climate initiatives. The Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW), named after its leader and former head of the Left party, held its inaugural national congress over the weekend, where delegates vocally critiqued the entire political landscape from left to right.

With the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) attracting around 20% support in national polls, drawing voters away from traditional parties, analysts suggest that the BSW, currently polling at 8% in one eastern state, might challenge the AfD’s popularity.

Although the AfD lags behind the opposition conservatives, who are at 31%, it still outpaces all three parties in Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s center-left coalition, which collectively sits at 32% in the polls. Wagenknecht expressed concerns about the state of German democracy, stating, "We fear that the anger and disagreement in the country will be seized upon by the AfD. We don’t believe people want radical right solutions. They just want a voice that they aren’t getting from other parties."

Interestingly, the BSW shares some policy positions with the AfD, including a desire to cease military support for Ukraine, a stance it argues prolongs the conflict. During the congress, there was no mention of the Russian invasion that sparked these discussions.

In a repurposed cinema on East Berlin’s Karl-Marx-Allee, Wagenknecht and her colleagues criticized Chancellor Scholz’s coalition for prioritizing identity politics over material issues affecting citizens’ lives. The party finds considerable support in former East Germany, where its focus on social spending and providing a safety net resonates with many.

Wagenknecht, born in eastern Germany to an Iranian father and a German mother, depicted the government and opposition as representatives of the affluent, describing Robert Habeck and Annalena Baerbock, the Green party’s economy and foreign ministers, as out of touch with the realities facing ordinary people. She quipped, "Maybe Robert Habeck thinks everyone lives in modern houses or well-insulated lofts, so he believes installing a heat pump is a great idea for everyone."

The party’s first major electoral challenge will occur later this year with three state elections in the East, where the AfD is polling as high as 31%, complicating coalition negotiations for all parties involved.

Although Wagenknecht has dismissed the possibility of collaborating with the AfD, the BSW’s strong performance could provide solutions to some governance challenges, although its foreign policy stances may not align with other parties’ preferences.