Sahra Wagenknecht, founder of the BSW (Basis Social Movement), has publicly criticized the AfD (Alternative for Germany) for its relationship with former US President Donald Trump. In remarks to the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland, published Thursday, Wagenknecht accused the AfD of misleading its voter base through its alignment with Trump.
Her critique stems from Trump’s recent shift in policy regarding Ukraine. Wagenknecht argued that the AfD has similarly deceived supporters; particularly those in eastern Germany who voted for the party based on peace-oriented reasons. She stated that the AfD, which previously celebrated Trump’s achievement of a five percent support rating and has consistently avoided criticizing his policies, is no more a “peace party” than Trump himself was a “peace president.
Wagenknecht is calling for a substantive debate with the AfD, which she claims is increasingly mirroring the foreign policy positions of Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader Friedrich Merz, mirroring a return to policies similar to those of former President Joe Biden. She asserted that the BSW currently represents the only genuine peace party within Germany.