Sahra Wagenknecht.Image: keystone
The BSW approaches the AfD with a letter: The party calls for an end to the AfD’s firewall and suggests duels between Wagenknecht and Weidel.
June 30, 2026, 03:39June 30, 2026, 03:39
The Alliance Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) has made an offer to the Alternative for Germany: In a letter to AfD leader Alice Weidel and co-party leader Tino Chrupalla, which was available to several media outlets on Monday, the party calls for an end to the firewall against the AfD. She also proposes two speeches before the elections in the East.
In the letter, which was first reported by “Bild”, the BSW advocates a “controversial debate on a large marketplace in the east of the republic” between Weidel and founder Sahra Wagenknecht.
Both parties are “being fought by the mainstream for different reasons,” criticized the BSW. Wagenknecht also complained that her party “almost no longer has a say” on public broadcasting. “But the East works differently. The fall of 2026 has something of 1989. If the BSW enters the Magdeburg state parliament, there will be a real chance for a democratic new beginning,” said Wagenknecht. Therefore, the BSW is opening its election campaign stages for two duels – one in Magdeburg and one in Schwerin. Both politicians had already met in 2024 for a speech on the Welt TV television station.
The BSW recently accused the public broadcasters ARD and ZDF of discriminating against the party when it invited people to political talk shows. ARD and ZDF rejected this.
BSW: “Non-partisan prime ministers”
The letter is signed by party leaders Fabio De Masi and Amira Mohamed Ali. In it, the BSW emphasizes “significant differences” to the AfD, but reiterates its rejection of a “firewall” and holds out the prospect of cooperation – on the one hand if the BSW subsequently enters the Bundestag when setting up investigative committees, and on the other hand in the future East German state parliaments.
The letter reiterates the well-known BSW line: “After the state elections in Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, our election goal is to vote out the incumbents and replace them with non-partisan prime ministers who govern the state parliaments with changing majorities with the involvement of the AfD.”
According to the party, this does not mean that the AfD will participate in government. However, the BSW outlines a model in which the AfD would be significantly involved in forming a government. According to the will of the BSW, majorities should be found with the AfD. All other parties exclude this. Depending on the outcome of the election, the AfD could nominate two prime ministers with the support of the BSW without a classic coalition forming.
The state parliament in the German town of Magdeburg in Saxony-Anhalt will be re-elected on September 6th, the election in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania will take place on September 20th. According to recent surveys, the BSW could move into Schwerin for the first time; in Magdeburg the party was recently below the five percent threshold.