BSW chief: US missiles in Germany are a red line for government involvement
The Alliance Sahra Wagenknecht could play a key role in the formation of the government after the upcoming state elections. Co-Chair Mohamed Ali has already made it clear which partners they do not want to form a coalition with.
Before the three state elections in Eastern Germany, the co-chair of the Alliance Sahra Wagenknecht, Amira Mohamed Ali, has designated the deployment of extensive US weapons in Germany as a red line for any potential government participation. "We will not be in any state government that simply accepts or even supports the deployment of these weapons," she said to the "Rheinische Post". "As BSW, we are so firmly against it that we make it a red line for government participation."
Saxony's Minister President Michael Kretschmer of the CDU had recently spoken out in favor of the deployment of such weapons, but called for a broad discourse on the matter. When asked if this would exclude an alliance with the CDU, Mohamed Ali said: "If he insists that the state government shares this position, then yes." While the final decision on war and peace lies with the federal level, the state government can bring initiatives and apply pressure through the Bundesrat.
At the NATO summit in July, the White House and the federal government announced that the USA wants to station weapons systems in Germany again from 2026 onwards, which can reach far into Russia. Named were Tomahawk cruise missiles, SM-6 rockets, and new hypersonic weapons. This is justified by the deterrence of Russia, which is currently massively arming. However, the BSW argues that the deployment increases the risk of war.
No coalition with the AfD
In the state election in Thuringia on September 1, the BSW could become the third strongest force behind the AfD and the CDU, according to polls. In Saxony, polls also currently show the Wagenknecht party in third place behind the CDU and the AfD. There will be no coalition between the BSW and the AfD, according to statements by Mohamed Ali. "We categorically rule out cooperation with the AfD - not just with Mr. Höcke, but overall," she said, referring to the Thuringian AfD top candidate Björn Höcke.
However, Mohamed Ali considers it possible that the BSW could vote together with the AfD. "If the AfD says the sky is blue, we don't say it's green. That would make us unbelievable," said the BSW chairwoman. "Cooperation would mean agreeing, submitting joint applications, or even forming coalitions. That's out of the question for us with a party that has extremist right-wing parts."
The Alliance Sahra Wagenknecht has stated its stance on participating in the government after the Elections to the Landtag of Thuringia, indicating that they will not form a coalition with any party that supports the deployment of US weapons in Germany. In the upcoming Thuringia elections, polls suggest that the BSW could be the third strongest force, but a coalition with the AfD is not an option for them due to the AfD's extremist right-wing elements.
