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🇩🇪 Germany /Elections & Politics

Wagenknecht Urges Cooperation with AfD in Saxony-Anhalt, Proposes Independent Minister-President

From Die Zeit · () German

Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • Sahra Wagenknecht, founder of the BSW party, advocates for cooperation with the AfD in Saxony-Anhalt, calling current policy "idiotic."
  • She proposes electing an independent, non-partisan minister-president with support from all democratically elected parties, including the AfD.
  • Wagenknecht argues that excluding AfD voters alienates nearly half the electorate and suggests an alternative approach to prevent the AfD from gaining an absolute majority.

Sahra Wagenknecht, founder of the new BSW party, has reiterated her willingness to cooperate with the AfD for the upcoming state election in Saxony-Anhalt. Wagenknecht criticized the current political stance against the AfD, stating, "We must get out of this wall-building idiocy, otherwise almost every second voter will feel betrayed."

We must get out of this wall-building idiocy, otherwise almost every second voter will feel betrayed.

— Sahra WagenknechtExplaining her stance on cooperation with the AfD.

Wagenknecht proposed that if the BSW enters the state parliament, they would seek a respected, independent figure from outside party politics to serve as minister-president. She suggested that such a leader could come from business, the judiciary, or religious institutions, and would form a cabinet of experts, potentially including members with and without party affiliations. This government would aim to rule with shifting majorities, incorporating "all democratically elected parties," which explicitly includes the AfD.

The AfD has reasonable demands in its program, for which it is elected.

— Sahra WagenknechtDefending the inclusion of the AfD in potential governing coalitions.

"The AfD has reasonable demands in its program, for which it is elected," Wagenknecht stated, defending the inclusion of the party. She rejected accusations of acting as a "stooge" for the AfD, arguing that many voters are "outraged" and vote for the AfD precisely because established parties ignore their concerns. "And then they always get broader and broader coalition walls that signal to them that their vote doesn't interest established politics at all," she said.

And then they always get broader and broader coalition walls that signal to them that their vote doesn't interest established politics at all.

— Sahra WagenknechtDescribing the consequences of current political strategies.

Wagenknecht warned that continuing this approach could lead to the AfD eventually winning an absolute majority. "I would find it wiser to think about another way beforehand," she urged. Current polls show the AfD leading significantly in Saxony-Anhalt with 42% of the vote, while the CDU trails at 23%. The BSW, however, is polling at 4% and may narrowly miss the 5% threshold to enter the state parliament.

I would find it wiser to think about another way beforehand.

— Sahra WagenknechtUrging a different approach to political cooperation.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Die Zeit in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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