BSW founder Sahra Wagenknecht cautioned against misinterpreting talks between the BSW and the AfD regarding a government in Saxony-Anhalt as giving the AfD a full mandate to govern. Speaking to the news channel Welt, Wagenknecht clarified that this is not a “blank check,” stating that the discussions are solely intended to push forward policies that voters hope for. She criticized other parties that refuse to engage in discussions with the BSW, deeming this approach undemocratic.
Wagenknecht asserted that “the other parties are unwilling to even hold discussions with a party that has been voted for by 44 percent of people in Saxony-Anhalt-I find that is not a democratic approach.” She emphasized that the goal is to utilize the new majority to promote different energy policies, greater freedom of expression, improved educational policies, and signals pointing toward peace and diplomacy, and that she wants to discuss this with the AfD.
“This does not mean that they receive a blank check from us to rule as if they had won an absolute majority. They haven’t,” she said. “But we also owe this to our voters. We will not participate alongside the old parties to block change.” Wagenknecht stressed the need for political change because a large majority of people desire it, asserting that the election results reflect this desire.
