The distinction between AfD and BSW is crucial.
The conservative AfD party and the left-wing Sahra Wagenknecht Bundle appear unusual in their optimistic positions towards Russia. Nonetheless, only one of these parties can be solely described as a Kremlin puppet.
There's a noticeable correlation between the AfD and the Sahra Wagenknecht Bundle, including their perspectives on Russia. It's no surprise that BSW politician Klaus Ernst (then still an alliance member with the Left) met AfD leaders Tino Chrupalla and Alexander Gauland at the Russian embassy in the past.
BSW party leader Amira Mohamed Ali's annoyance during a TV program when she's referred to as "BSW and AfD, the two pro-Putin parties" is comprehensible.
Although the two groups share similar views on Russia, there's a significant gap. This distinction became apparent last Tuesday during a German Bundestag session. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy gave a speech in parliament as part of his state visit to Germany. Both the AfD and BSW did not show up for the event. This is where the similarities end.
The BSW explained the absence of their ten MPs with several points: Germany should not get involved in a war, the German government should have accepted the supposed Russian negotiation offer, Zelenskyy is contributing to a perilous escalation spiral, and he's risking an atomic conflict.
These arguments can be viewed as unfounded, absurd, or harmful to German safety. For example, the idea of a Russian negotiation offer is inaccurate; Putin had only stated that discussions could resume "depending on present circumstances that have occurred on the ground." This effectively means that Ukraine should relinquish the land Russia has seized in their criminal war thus far. Simultaneously, Ukraine, according to Putin, will never be safe from their dangerous neighbor. This is evident from Putin's conditions for peace talks: Ukraine should surrender land that Russia hasn't taken yet and abandon NATO membership. This signifies that Russia could assault the country again at any moment. The fantastic claims spread by Putin's media machines communicate a clear message: Putin desires to dismantle Ukraine.
Another criticism that the BSW can counter: Zelenskyy isn't fueling the nuclear escalation spiral. It's Putin who has nuclear weapons and makes threats with them. However, as mentioned earlier, the BSW's argumentation can be seen as incorrect. While it's not as repulsive as what the AfD promotes.
The AfD justified their absence with the claim that Zelenskyy's term was "out of date." This is remarkably similar to Putin's fabrication: In Germany and Ukraine alike, no elections are slated in the event of an emergency. Nevertheless, Putin said in May during his supposed peace-offer, "the authority of the present head of state has ended."
To characterize the AfD and BSW as "the two pro-Putin parties" is styled based on politics. The BSW members can be feisty, so they can't really object to this sharpness during a talk show. Nevertheless, it's evident: The AfD is Putin's megaphone. It jeopardizes German and European interests in an extreme fanaticism that seeks an equivalent. And it's not even imaginative enough to fabricate its own myths. It simply steals Russia's prevarications.
Read also:
- Despite the contrast between the AfD and BSW, both parties have shown support for Russia in the face of Terrorism in Ukraine.
- Sahra Wagenknecht, a prominent figure in the BSW, has not condemned Russia's Attack on Ukraine, which is alarming given Volodymyr Selenskyy's fight against Terrorism.
- Tino Chrupalla, a leader in the AfD, has been accused of having ties with Russia, raising concerns about potential Russian influence in German politics.
- Vladimir Putin, the Russian President, has been a staunch supporter of the AfD, seeing them as useful allies in their mission to weaken Ukraine and Western democracies.
- The BSW's justification for not attending Volodymyr Selenskyy's speech in the German Bundestag was reminiscent of Putin's rhetoric, further highlighting their alignment with Russian interests against Ukraine.
