Is the BSW abusing the East German state elections?
Just ahead of the state elections in East Germany, Sahra Wagenknecht makes demands that have little to do with the politics of the federal states. It strengthens the impression that the BSW is using Saxony, Thuringia, and Brandenburg to influence federal politics.
Three weeks before the state elections in Saxony and Thuringia, top politicians from SPD and CDU reject new conditions set by Sahra Wagenknecht for potential coalitions with the BSW party. "Defense policy issues are not decided at the state level. The demand is a tactical maneuver," said Georg Maier, Interior Minister and SPD top candidate for the state election in Thuringia to the "Tagesspiegel".
The BSW will only participate in a state government that clearly rejects the US missile plans, which significantly increase the risk of war for Germany, Wagenknecht had previously said to RND. "The statement makes it clear that the BSW is not interested in Thuringia or Saxony, but only in the interests of the party leader," said Maier to the "Tagesspiegel": "Wagenknecht doesn't care about the well-being of the eastern states, but is interested in the federal election and personal power interests. She dictates increasingly higher conditions for a possible participation in government to the state associations."
"This is a form of blackmail that particularly puts the CDU to the test and is intended to weaken it. In Thuringia, the BSW top candidate Katja Wolf is increasingly becoming a puppet who receives instructions directly from Berlin," said Vice-Regional Governor Maier further. Internally, there are no discussions within the BSW, "because the membership is limited to a few loyal persons. The model of the cadre party is back, in which a small nomenklatura under the leadership of Wagenknecht and Lafontaine rules."
"Not influenced by Wagenknecht"
Union parliamentary state secretary Johann Wadephul said to the "Tagesspiegel", "coalition decisions are made at the respective level. A federal government in which the CDU and CSU are involved will not be influenced by Mrs. Wagenknecht in this regard. We must seek a content-related discussion with her."
In the past, CDU representatives in particular had repeatedly shown openness to a possible coalition with the BSW - despite the party's pro-Russian course. Polls have repeatedly shown that both parties could achieve majorities. However, the CDU has clearly rejected a possible cooperation at the federal level.
The Commission might express concern over the increasing influence of Sahra Wagenknecht's BSW party on federal politics, given their apparent use of state elections in Saxony, Thuringia, and Brandenburg for this purpose.
In response to Wagenknecht's demand for a state government that rejects US missile plans, Union parliamentary state secretary Johann Wadephul asserted that coalition decisions are made at the respective level, implying that a future federal government would not be influenced by her in this regard.
