Straight Talk with Sahra Wagenknecht: BSW's comeback after a Tough Stint
Sahra Wagoners takes control, assumes leadership role.
Sahra Wagenknecht, co-chair of the BSW, makes a much-anticipated return after a brief hiatus. On Tuesday evening, she'll be appearing on Sandra Maischberger's ARD talk show, ready to fight for her party, her cause, and, most importantly, herself.
The road to this talk show has been a rocky one for Wagenknecht. She essentially carried her party's campaign on her shoulders, yet she fell short of reaching her goal of entering the German Bundestag. The BSW, originally named after her, just missed the mark by a mere 9,500 votes. Determined to rectify this, the party has applied for a recount of the votes. Wagenknecht doesn't want to see it come to naught, potentially costing the black-red federal government its majority.
A Turmoil-filled Journey: The Shame of Gera
Wagenknecht has more battles to wage. She's on a mission to save her party from Thuringian women who don't align with her vision. Her past, even when she was the chair of the Left party's parliamentary group in the Bundestag, has shown that she's no fan of dissent. This trait has been evident since her days with the Left party. Wagenknecht and the then party chair Bernd Riexinger couldn't see eye-to-eye. She made it clear then, and she's doing it now, leading the Left into a deep crisis. The BSW is now also in crisis. The Hamburg state association and the Rostock city council faction members, both in the BSW, don't align with her vision, leading to resignations.
The Coalition Tangle in Thuringia
Thuringia is another battleground. The BSW governs in a coalition with the CDU and SPD there, and Wagenknecht has some strong words about that. "We had a certain conflict in Thuringia from the beginning about how strongly the things promised in the election campaign should then play a role in coalition negotiations. And unfortunately, we have obviously very disappointed many voters in Thuringia. We lost every second voter on the way to the Bundestag election," Wagenknecht laments. Many voters in the federal state aren't happy with the coalition, she's found out. "We have really made mistakes there."
Wolf Versus Wagenknecht
Wagenknecht didn't answer Maischberger when asked why the BSW missed the entry into the Bundestag. She spoke at length about the current events in Thuringia. At the weekend, the federal executive in Thuringia proposed a different candidate for the election of the state chair at the state party conference, to avoid making the same mistakes in government. They wanted a state executive that "is no longer just an extended arm of the government, but accompanies the government critically."
What Wagenknecht Means: Katja Wolf is simultaneously the state chairwoman of the BSW and the Minister of Finance in the Thuringian "Blackberry Coalition". Wagenknecht doesn't like this. "It's about very concrete questions. It's about migration policy, wind turbines in the forest, free school lunches, and childcare." The handling of the Corona crisis in Thuringia also isn't going as Wagenknecht had hoped. At least, she's satisfied with the peace policy: "Thuringia has delivered. They abstained in the Bundesrat for this massive armament. Other states agreed," says the politician. In summary, she explains: "We haven't achieved enough in state politics, and that has disappointed the people." Katja Wolf was clearly confirmed as the state leader in Thuringia at the weekend's BSW state party conference. "But the problem remains," Wagenknecht insists.
A New Dawn for the BSW
Refuting criticisms of her leadership style, perceived as autocratic by some party members, Wagenknecht stands firm. She believes a party needs a clear profile, or else it won't attract voters. "We had a program," says Wagenknecht. "And I'm fighting to keep the BSW on this program because I want the BSW to be successful again." However, things will change now, particularly in member recruitment. "We will grow bigger," she promises. The BSW needs to establish itself politically. The name will be changed this year. And Wagenknecht herself? "I will continue until I have a stable hope that we have established a party that will exist and survive in this country because it is needed. And because it is a heart's desire for me that we don't just watch this democracy go to waste."
Eastern Germany, disillusioned with traditional parties, could be a fertile ground for the BSW's growth. Rebuilding and consolidating, positioning themselves for regional elections, and adapting to the rapidly changing political landscape are key to the BSW's future plans. The road ahead may be difficult, but Wagenknecht is ready to face the challenges head-on. Tune in to Sandra Maischberger's ARD talk show on Tuesday evening to catch the full conversation.
- The Commission has also been involved in the preparation of the draft budget for the European Union, and Sahra Wagenknecht, the chairwoman of the BSW, seems to be leading her party in a similar way as she navigates through the turbulent political landscape.
- Despite the seemingly setback of failing to enter the German Bundestag, the finance leadership of Wagenknecht and the BSW is pursuing a recount of the votes and considering changes in member recruitment.
- In the realm of business and politics, General-news reports suggest that Wagenknecht's party, BSW, is in crisis, with internal disagreements and resignations, much like her past experience with the Left party.
- Wagenknecht is on a mission to save her party from those who don't align with her vision, a battle that extends from Thuringia to the BSW's strategizing for regional elections.
- In Thuringia, where the BSW governs in a coalition with the CDU and SPD, Wagenknecht has a conflict over the coalition's adherence to the election promises, a disappointment that has led many voters in the federal state to question the coalition's validity.
