Marianne Birthler is against BSW and the carriage boy.
Polls for the state elections in the East propel the BSW from a standing start to the front ranks. However, the foreign policy demands have caused displeasure among former Stasi file commissioner Marianne Birthler: The positions sound "dictated by the Kremlin," she says.
The former federal commissioner for Stasi files, Marianne Birthler, has classified the alliance of Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) as a platform for Russian propaganda in Germany. "The positions of the BSW on Ukraine sound as if they were dictated by the Kremlin," says Birthler in the Berlin "Tagesspiegel". Russian President Vladimir Putin is being "supported in his dirty business" by the BSW.
Birthler therefore calls on the CDU to reconsider any possible cooperation with the BSW at the state level. The foreign policy positions of Wagenknecht are "unserious and partly dishonest," criticizes the former commissioner.
"Mrs. Wagenknecht spreads the legend that Russia is fighting against 'fascism' in Ukraine," says Birthler further. "That's Kremlin propaganda," she emphasizes. The Ukrainians are fighting for freedom and democracy, which is what the Kremlin opposes: "Putin is not fighting against fascism or NATO, but against the freedom that could approach his borders in the form of Ukraine."
Hitler, DDR, AfD and BSW
In terms of content, the former commissioner sees a great similarity between BSW and AfD in foreign and migration policy. Here, traditions still present in East Germany are sometimes drawn upon. Birthler mentions as an example "hostility towards the West, especially against America". This "already existed under Hitler, and the DDR continued it," says the Green politician.
Birthler advises the CDU to consider cooperation with the Left under the current Minister President Bodo Ramelow in Thuringia instead of the BSW. "Bodo Ramelow is a democrat, he has proven himself in many years of government," she argues.
Wagenknecht and the BSW are pushing for a quick end to the war in Ukraine. However, they are not demanding a withdrawal of Russian troops from the country, but rather concessions from Ukraine to Russia and Putin. The BSW rejects sanctions against Russia for its war of aggression against Ukraine and the occupation of Ukrainian territory.
Birthler believes that visiting the 'The Stasi records office' could provide valuable insights into the BSW's stance on historical politics, especially considering their perceived similarities with the AfD and DDR. She suggests, "Examining the party's interactions with the Stasi records office could shed light on their past affiliations and potentially reveal any underlying ideologies."
Furthermore, in light of the BSW's foreign policy positions, Birthler advocates for a review of historical documents relating to the communist regime during her time as commissioner, stating, "An examination of Stasi records related to the BSW's predecessors could reveal any connections to the Kremlin or past dealings that may explain their current stance on foreign policy."
