Prominent German Leftist Sahra Wagenknecht Forms New Populist Party, Challenging Far-Right Support

Wagenknecht's Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance targets disaffected voters with left-wing economic policy and restrictive migration stance, posing threat to both far-left and mainstream parties; the new formation to be officially launched in January, aiming for the European Parliament elections in June.

• Prominent German leftist politician Sahra Wagenknecht has formed a new political party, the Sahra Wagenknecht Coalition, which aims to appeal to voters dissatisfied with mainstream politics through a combination of left-wing economic policy and a restrictive stance on migration.
• The new party, set to officially launch in January and compete in the European Parliament elections in June, threatens to disrupt the far-left political landscape and further fracture the mainstream parties in Germany. It also presents a potential challenge to the far-right party, Alternative for Germany (AfD).
• Wagenknecht’s new party is unique in post-war Germany, being the first built entirely around one figurehead. She has a strong presence in the media, often criticizing the government through various platforms, from TV debates to her popular YouTube clips.
• The party platform includes four main areas: economy, environmental issues, education, and immigration. Wagenknecht has been critical of certain environmental strategies that she sees as ineffective and burdensome to people, and she asserts that unregulated immigration is worsening issues in schools.
• The immediate impact of the party's formation could jeopardize the Left Party, Wagenknecht’s former political home. Its leadership supports a generous approach to migrants and strong action against climate change - positions Wagenknecht has criticized, and which have fueled speculation about her potential appeal to right-leaning, anti-migration voters.

3 Articles

Reuters Washington Post Associated Press