The left-wing politician Sahra Wagenknecht still leaves it open whether she will found a new party. “The decision will be made by the end of the year,” said the Bundestag member of the “Bild” newspaper (online). The paper reported, citing anonymous confidants, that the foundation had already been decided – there would be a new party after October 8, election day in Bavaria and Hesse.
But Wagenknecht told the German Press Agency: “That is the opinion of the “Bild” newspaper. It remains the case: We will decide on the founding of the party by the end of the year at the latest.” Several confidants from her environment also said unanimously at the weekend that there was no new status. As soon as the decision was made, it would be made public.
The former head of the Left parliamentary group has been toying with founding a rival party to the Left for months. She fell out with her party and the chairmen Janine Wissler and Martin Schirdewan in a dispute over direction. She accuses the left of having distanced itself from the interests of its core clientele of low-income earners and ordinary people.
“An incredible effort”
Wagenknecht told the “Tagesspiegel”: “Many people no longer feel represented by any party and are voting for the AfD out of desperation. I think it would be good if these people had a reputable address again.” But founding a party is “an incredible effort” and not one single person can decide on it. Her “Get Up” project, which she started in 2018, was not well prepared and collapsed after a short time despite great response.
In the past few days, Wagenknecht has spoken out several times with his own positions and, for example, attacked the billions in German aid for Ukraine and the Building Energy Act. She criticized both as a burden on citizens.
“Many people want necessary changes, but don’t want everything to be turned upside down,” explained Wagenknecht in the “Tagesspiegel”. “They want to hold on to their values and their culture.” She mentioned decency, honesty, humanity, appreciation of hard work, and not taking advantage of state services. “It’s all considered conservative, but when such values crumble, a society no longer functions.”
Criticism of “urban high earners”
Wagenknecht made it clear that she continues to see herself as a left-wing politician – something parts of her party deny. She advocates for those “who do not come from wealthy families, for people with low and middle incomes.” She renewed her criticism of “urban high earners” with heat pumps, organic shopping and second electric cars. “But if people in this milieu look down on people who can’t afford all of this and buy their schnitzel at Aldi, that has nothing to do with a left-wing perspective.”
Left faction leader Dietmar Bartsch countered: “I will fight to ensure that the Left remains an influential party and gets back on the road to success. State governments with the Left, mayors, mayors, district administrators will of course remain stable with us,” he told the Düsseldorf “Rheinische Post” and the Bonner “General-Anzeiger” (Monday). “We will have to do our homework and be the social opposition for the people because many are suffering from the traffic light policy.”
