Ex-GDR civil rights activists warn against coalition with BSW
On the eve of elections in Thuringia, Saxony, and Brandenburg, the Alliance for Progress (BSW) is already enjoying great popularity there. Former East German civil rights activists view a possible involvement of the party in the government critically, especially due to its foreign policy positions.
Former East German civil rights activists have warned against a government involvement of the new party Alliance for Progress (BSW) after the state elections in East Germany in an open letter. There is great concern that the BSW could participate in the government, especially due to the foreign policy positions of the Wagenknecht party, said Marianne Birthler, the former head of the Stasi Records Authority.
The initiative for the open letter came from Saxony, and she supported it gladly. Also, the former civil rights activist and last DDR foreign minister, Markus Meckel, confirmed that he co-signed the letter. In the paper published on the platform X, above all statements by party founder Sahra Wagenknecht and other BSW members on the war in Ukraine are criticized as false.
Among other things, Wagenknecht said in the public broadcaster in mid-2023 that all military experts predicted a defeat of Ukraine in its defensive struggle against Russia - which is not the case. Further examples that the authors of the paper consider misleading are mentioned.
The letter ends with an appeal to the "democratic parties" and especially the CDU to carefully consider whether they want to enter a coalition with the BSW and tolerate it after the state elections.
High poll numbers in three states
Moreover, the parties should distance themselves more clearly from the "national socialism" of the BSW, it says in the paper further. In September, new state parliaments will be elected in Thuringia, Saxony, and Brandenburg. In polls, the BSW achieves values of 15 to 20 percent in the three states.
The CDU in the three states has not ruled out a cooperation with the new party. Wagenknecht had said last week that the BSW would only participate in a state government that also clearly positions itself at the federal level for diplomacy and against war preparations.
The open letter signed by former East German civil rights activists, including Marianne Birthler and Markus Meckel, critiques the foreign policy positions of Sahra Wagon servant, the party founder of BSW, particularly her statements on the war in Ukraine. Despite the high poll numbers of BSW in Thuringia, Saxony, and Brandenburg, reaching values of 15 to 20 percent, the letter urges democratic parties, particularly the CDU, to consider cautiously any coalition or tolerance of BSW due to their close ties with national socialism.
