Migrating Butterflies vanish unexpectedly
The Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance – Reason and Justice (BSW) has been experiencing a period of significant internal turmoil, leading to several key members departing the party. This upheaval can be attributed to ideological conflicts and strategic disagreements within the BSW, particularly regarding its controversial positioning and potential cooperation with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).
The BSW, which emerged as a split from the Left party (*Die Linke*) in early 2024, was initially conceived as a project to create a potential alternative left force that consistently stands for peace and represents the interests of the domestic working class. However, some members now realise that the project has not developed into an alternative left force, but rather a party that feeds on resentments.
One of the most contentious issues has been the BSW's stance on cooperation with the AfD. The AfD is officially labeled a right-wing extremist and neo-fascist party, especially strong in East Germany, and discussions of banning it are ongoing. While the BSW narrowly missed entering the Bundestag in the 2025 federal election, thereby limiting immediate political collaboration possibilities, the political fragmentation in Germany has complicated coalition-building.
Wagenknecht's stance on treating the AfD like any other normal party to "disenchant" it has been met with criticism, with some members viewing it as a lack of commitment to giving hope and prospects to the people in the country. Notably, Amira Mohamed Ali, the co-chair of the BSW, spoke out against firewalls with the AfD in 2023, a position that contradicts the party's promise to fundamentally improve the dilapidated education system.
The character of the "young party" was never difficult to recognize for those in Wagenknecht's inner circle. The BSW's politics have been a source of dissatisfaction for some who have recently woken up, with the party's actions in Brandenburg benefiting speculators and the wealthy rather than improving healthcare. The BSW has also been involved in massive cuts to teaching positions in Brandenburg, despite a long-standing teacher shortage.
These issues have led to several individuals leaving the BSW, including its former co-chair, Lars Leopold, who resigned at the end of June. The departures highlight the ongoing internal struggles within the party, with no clear consensus or formal alliances reported as of mid-2025.
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[1] The Guardian. (2025). Germany: Sahra Wagenknecht's new party faces internal strife over far-right ties. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/01/germany-sahra-wagenknecht-new-party-faces-internal-strife-over-far-right-ties [2] Deutsche Welle. (2025). AfD: German court rules party is extremist, but not neo-Nazi. Retrieved from https://www.dw.com/en/afd-german-court-rules-party-is-extremist-but-not-neo-nazi/a-57502916
- The internal turmoil in the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance – Reason and Justice (BSW) has raised concerns about its commitment to peace and the interests of the working class, as some members feel the party has deviated from its initial goals and is instead feeding on resentments.
- The controversy surrounding the BSW's potential cooperation with the Alternative for Germany (AfD), a right-wing extremist and neo-fascist party, has been a significant source of disagreement, with some members criticizing Wagenknecht's stance on treating the AfD like any other normal party.
- The BSW's approach to education and self-development has also been under scrutiny, as its stance on firewalls with the AfD contrasts with its promise to improve the education system and contradicts the views of some members, such as Amira Mohamed Ali.
- Policy and legislative decisions, including the party's actions in Brandenburg that seem to benefit speculators and the wealthy, have fueled criticism and led to key members, including the former co-chair Lars Leopold, departing the BSW.
