A German Left-Wing Party Sees Significant Growth in Membership
According to a recent report by the German news magazine Spiegel, the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) has more than doubled its membership numbers, now standing at 2,600. This marks a significant turnaround for the party, which had struggled with growth in the past. At the beginning of the year, the party had only 1,100 members.
The party’s leadership is now planning for continued growth, a marked shift from the past when the party’s chair, Sahra Wagenknecht, controlled access to the alliance tightly. During the election campaign, the party faced a shortage of volunteers and several newly established regional branches eventually split apart. Some members even accused the party leadership of autocratic tendencies and criticized the gatekeeping practices.
Wagenknecht had previously promised to loosen the party’s admission practices after the federal election. Recently, the establishment of a youth wing was announced and a potential name change for the party was also considered, although the decision was ultimately put on hold.