In the aftermath of the Saxony-Anhalt election, no clear governing coalition has emerged. The Alternative for Germany (AfD) secured 44% of the vote but fell short of an absolute majority, making the formation of a new government in one of Germany’s sixteen federal states more challenging than ever. This political deadlock is partly attributed to the surprising success of the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW), a party established only in 2024.
Sahra Wagenknecht, an economist and former member of the socialist Left Party, has distanced herself from her communist roots over time. Her party defies traditional political labels, with Wagenknecht noting that many voters no longer identify with concepts such as “left” or “right.” From its inception, the BSW has shown willingness to engage with the AfD, asserting that labeling some of its members as Nazis is unfair.
Post-election, Wagenknecht and her supporters are exploring ways to find common ground with the AfD. There is even discussion about the BSW potentially abstaining in the vote to allow Ulrich Siegmund, the AfD’s lead candidate, to become state premier. Wagenknecht had previously hinted at this possibility before the September 6 election.
Both the BSW and AfD share views beyond immigration policy, including opposition to uncontrolled migration and calls to end German arms deliveries to Ukraine. Additionally, both parties argue that freedom of speech is currently under threat in Germany. However, whether the BSW will formally ally with the AfD remains uncertain. Siegmund has stated his intention to govern solely with an absolute majority from his own party.
The BSW was founded in January 2024 as a splinter group from the Left Party. It quickly gained prominence, winning seats in the European Parliament and achieving double-digit results in several state elections. In Brandenburg and Thuringia, the BSW entered government coalitions, though negotiations in Saxony with the CDU and SPD were unsuccessful.
Tensions within the BSW have surfaced between federal leadership and state branches. In Brandenburg, conflicts over coalition strategies led to the breakdown of agreements with the Social Democrats in 2025. Meanwhile, in Thuringia, most BSW lawmakers announced they were leaving the party just before the Saxony-Anhalt election, though they planned to remain in the CDU-led state government.
Katja Wolf, the Thuringian Finance Minister, justified the decision by stating, “We have not been elected to tolerate flirts with right-wing radicals,” referencing Wagenknecht’s outreach to the AfD. Despite these internal struggles, the BSW’s performance in Saxony-Anhalt has given the party unexpected significance, especially after narrowly missing the 5% threshold in the 2025 federal elections.
Wagenknecht, who has stepped back from formal leadership but remains the party’s most prominent figure, expressed confidence in the BSW’s resurgence. She told the German news agency dpa, “The BSW’s comeback has begun.” The true sustainability of this political shift will become clearer following parliamentary elections in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Berlin on September 20.
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