- The AfD, Refusing to Form a Coalition with the Hoge
"We've always stated that we won't work with Herr Höcke," said the ex-Left Party politician to "Berliner Zeitung". Right-wing figurehead Björn Höcke is the AfD's main candidate for Thuringia's state election. In Saxony and Brandenburg, where new state parliaments are being elected, "there are plenty from his side", said Wagenknecht.
The party leader remarked about Höcke, "I don't need the spy agency to figure out that Höcke and his camp represent the extreme right-wing 'völkisch' ideology of blood and soil." The Saxony and Thuringia spy agencies classify the AfD as firmly right-wing extremist in both states, and in Brandenburg, the AfD is considered a potential right-wing extremist threat by the state constitutional protection agency. The "Wing", led by Höcke, has since been disbanded officially.
Wagenknecht Advocates Different Approach to AfD
Wagenknecht requests stricter control over the spy agencies in all three states and accuses them of acting independently and making policies. The AfD aims to abolish the spy agency in its current form.
The party founder reiterated her request for a distinct handling of the AfD compared to other parties. "We won't automatically reject everything from the AfD," she told the newspaper. "In the end, that just gives them more exposure."
Leader Stresses Distance from AfD on Immigration
The AfD is polling around 30% in Saxony and Thuringia, and 24% in Brandenburg. In Thuringia and Brandenburg, it leads in the polls. The BSW scored 17-19% in recent Thuringia polls, 11-14% in Saxony, and 16-17% in Brandenburg. Political scientist Jan Philipp Thomeczek considers the BSW a populist party in a study.
"I hope the AfD won't surge to 30% nationwide soon," said Wagenknecht. Regarding the AfD's immigration policy, she said, "We're not stoking hatred towards migrants. We're saying that high immigration is overwhelming our country, that there must be regulations."
Wagenknecht Denies Accusations of Being a Cult Party
The BSW plans to pressure the federal government to prioritize diplomacy and peace over a new arms race if it becomes part of state governance, said Wagenknecht. The deployment of medium-range missiles "makes us a target for Russian nuclear missiles," she said. "Preventing this is critical for us."
Wagenknecht countered accusations of authoritarian party leadership. "If we'd organized differently, the BSW might not have survived five months," she said. "Young parties quickly disintegrate if anyone can join."
Wagenknecht mentioned that despite her opposition to some beliefs of the AfD, such as those held by Björn Höcke, she believes in addressing their proposals carefully, as rejecting them outright might give them more attention. In the upcoming elections in Saxony and Brandenburg, there are still figures aligned with Höcke's ideology running for office.
Despite the AfD's strong polling and lead in some states, Wagenknecht expressed concern about their potential growth nationwide, fearing they could reach a 30% share of the vote. She also clarified that her party does not promote hate towards migrants but advocates for regulations to manage high immigration levels that are overwhelming the country.
