Former Hamburg Mayor and ex-Federal Education Minister Klaus von Dohnanyi has expressed disappointment with the trajectory of the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW).
In remarks published Friday, von Dohnanyi stated he regrets that Wagenknecht did not further develop the political positioning of her party. He acknowledged the BSW’s ability to attract voters traditionally supporting the Alternative for Germany (AfD), particularly in eastern Germany, while also recognizing a shared alignment on principles of peaceful foreign policy.
Regarding migration, von Dohnanyi indicated the BSW has articulated positions with which he fundamentally agrees. “Wagenknecht had certain approaches in that area. Unfortunately, she wasn’t as successful as I would have liked” he commented.
The former SPD politician offered no firm predictions about the BSW’s future. He highlighted the continued growth of the AfD, which in some polls now stands at parity with the conservative CDU/CSU bloc. He expressed concern that a few challenging economic developments in Germany could propel the AfD to become the country’s strongest political force, a scenario he deeply regrets and believes must be actively countered.
Von Dohnanyi similarly refrained from speculating about the broader implications for Germany were the AfD to achieve such a position, stating unequivocally that it would not be a positive development for the country.