Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance

The Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance – Reason and Justice is a political party in Germany that started on 8 January 2024. It is seen as a left-wing to far-left group with populist and nationalist ideas. The party questions green politics, criticizes support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia and for Israel in its actions in Gaza. It also has Eurosceptic and anti-American views on international matters.

The party began after some members left the The Left party. Sahra Wagenknecht, Amira Mohamed Ali, Christian Leye, and others announced their plan to create a new party in September 2023. More people joined, including former leaders like Klaus Ernst and Fabio De Masi. The party was officially started in January 2024, with Wagenknecht and Mohamed Ali as leaders. They also formed a group in the German parliament, the Bundestag.

In its first elections in May 2024, the party gained attention. By June 2024, it won about 6% of votes in the European Parliament elections. In September 2024, it performed well in elections in three eastern states: Saxony, Thuringia, and Brandenburg. The party even became part of the government in Thuringia and Brandenburg. However, in the 2025 German federal election, the party just missed getting enough votes to secure seats in the Bundestag. Later state elections also brought lower results. For elections in September 2026, polls suggest the party might win between 3% and 5% of votes.

In November 2025, Wagenknecht said she would step down as leader and chose Fabio De Masi, a member of the European Parliament, to take her place.

History

Sahra Wagenknecht was a well-known left-wing politician who was part of several political groups before founding the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance – Reason and Justice (BSW) on 8 January 2024. She had disagreements with other members of her former party about issues like refugee policies and the war in Ukraine.

The BSW was created after Wagenknecht decided to leave her old party. Many members of her old party were unhappy about this and some even tried to stop her from starting a new one.

The BSW officially started in January 2024. Since then, it has grown and gained seats in several state parliaments. The party focuses on issues like limiting migration and changing how the European Union works. It has had some successes in elections, especially in eastern Germany, but also faced challenges, like not getting enough votes in the 2025 federal election to win seats in the main German parliament.

Despite these challenges, the BSW continues to work and hopes to gain more influence in future elections.

Intra-party structure

See also: List of Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht politicians

The Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance has a special way of organizing itself compared to other parties in Germany. It has a small group of members and also allows people to join as "registered supporters." To become a full member, someone must be approved by an existing member and the party’s leaders. At first, the number of full members was limited to 450, mostly people close to Sahra Wagenknecht or important party workers. By March 2024, there were 17,000 registered supporters, 8,000 people wanting to join, and 500 full members. The party plans to keep the number of full members small, aiming for no more than 1,000 by the end of 2024 and about 2,000 by the 2025 German federal election. Sahra Wagenknecht said they want to make sure only people who agree with their ideas and will work together well can join.

Journalists were not allowed at the early meetings to set up the party in Lower Saxony and Bremen.

The first group of party leaders chosen in February 2024 is listed below:

State branches

Ideology and platform

The BSW has been called many things, such as populist, socialist, anti-capitalist, and conservative in culture. It is seen as left-wing but also holds some right-wing views on issues like immigration.

Research shows that BSW comes from a part of the German Left party that wanted more change. It mixes left-wing economic ideas with more traditional views on social matters.

The BSW focuses on economic fairness, wanting to help workers and reduce inequality. It is against big companies and wants more control over the economy. The party also talks about issues like better roads and internet service.

On cultural issues, BSW has conservative views, such as being against too much immigration and against changes to the German language to include more gender options. The party believes that too much immigration can hurt the German welfare system.

The BSW is also against too much involvement in international affairs and supports better relations with Russia. It is critical of policies that it thinks hurt ordinary people, like some environmental rules.

Election results

Federal Parliament (Bundestag)

European Parliament

State parliaments (Landtage)

Results timeline

Reactions

The Left (Die Linke)

Many members of The Left were relieved when Sahra Wagenknecht left the party. Some politicians from The Left were unhappy with her followers and asked them to give back their seats in the Bundestag. The youth wing of The Left welcomed her leaving and hoped the party could now renew itself.

Social Democratic Party (SPD)

The Social Democratic Party commented that Wagenknecht had not achieved much for people during her time in politics. They were not too worried about her new party because she did not often attend Bundestag meetings.

Christian Democratic Union (CDU)

The Christian Democratic Union of Germany discussed how to respond to the new party. Some leaders said the party’s views did not match theirs. Others thought the new party might take votes away from another group called the AfD.

Alternative for Germany (AfD)

The AfD worried that the new party might take away some of their voters in eastern Germany.

Media

German newspapers had different opinions. Some thought the new party might compete with the AfD for voters, especially on topics like the COVID-19 pandemic and the situation in Ukraine. Others in Britain and Italy commented on how the party might change the political landscape in Germany.