The BSW is expected to welcome a significant number of new members in the coming months, according to the party’s general secretary, Christian Leye, who made the announcement at the Bundesparteitag in Bonn on Sunday.
“We will experience a significant growth in the course of this year, with many hundreds of new members” he said, calling it “the right decision.” At the same time, Leye defended the party’s current approach to new membership, stating that “it was not possible to do it differently in the first year.” He added that the party had no other choice but to take a decisive approach, given the crises of the time, the pressure on the young party, and the lack of resources.
Leye also echoed the media criticism previously expressed by the party’s chairwoman, Amira Mohamed Ali, saying that “it seems to be a hobby for some journalists to write the BSW off these days.” He also expressed his concern about the occasional lack of objectivity in the media, citing instances where the party was invited to participate in Chancellor’s debates and formats for top candidates, but only seemingly at the whim of the journalists.