Sahra Wagenknecht, a notable figure in Germany's political landscape, is now considering stepping into a leadership role for her upcoming party, potentially sharing the position in a dual leadership setup. Prior to this, she had rejected the idea of leading the party, but her stance has shifting due to requests from others. The party in question, which does not yet have an official name, is set to be established in January 2024, with a party conference planned for January 27 in Berlin.
In an interview, Wagenknecht hinted at the potential for dual leadership, acknowledging that one person cannot undertake every responsibility alone. When asked if she would be part of this dual leadership, she responded affirmatively. Initially, the departure of Wagenknecht and eight other Left Party members led to a loss of parliamentary group status for the Linke in the German federal parliament. However, both the Linke and the new party, expected to be named the BSW, aim to regain this recognition.
It's worth noting that membership to this new party will not be granted to anyone interested. Wagenknecht emphasizes that the party wants to get to know its members first, as some young parties might attract individuals with challenging personalities. To join, applicants must be vouched for by an existing member and have their application approved by the party's federal executive board. The party initially limited membership to several hundred individuals, each responsible for building the party in their respective countries.
As for any previous membership in the AfD, Wagenknecht mentioned that it would not constitute an automatic obstacle to joining their new party.
Additional Insights
Since the establishment of the BSW in January 2024, Sahra Wagenknecht and Amira Mohamed Ali have both assumed leadership roles in the party. They are joined by prominent figures such as Shervin Haghsheno, Amid Rabieh, and Friederike Benda as deputy leaders, with Christian Leye serving as the general secretary.
The party's membership process is stringent, with applicants needing to be vouched for by an existing member and approved by the federal executive board. Full membership is capped at 1,000, with a focus on close associates and party functionaries. As of March 2024, the party had 17,000 registered supporters, 8,000 applications for membership, and 500 full members. The party aims to maintain a relatively small membership until the 2025 German federal election.
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