The Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) has issued a warning to the Federal Constitutional Court, urging it not to dismiss its lawsuit seeking a recount of the Bundestag election. According to Sahra Wagenknecht, if the court validates the reasoning put forth by the Bundestag, future false election results could stem not merely from tallying errors, but from genuine electoral manipulation. The party founder added that such a ruling would further erode public confidence in the democratic rule of law, voicing hope that the judges are aware of the gravity of their responsibility.
BSW chairperson Amira Mohamed Ali emphasized the vital nature of the issue, stating that the question essentially determines whether they are living in a democracy or not. She warned that if the election is not checked despite the discovery of numerous, proven counting irregularities, the door will be automatically opened to electoral fraud in subsequent elections.
The BSW also significantly bolstered its argument before the court. In a 108-page submission, reported by Stern, the party invoked a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), a decision to which Germany is bound. In a 2020 ruling, the Strasbourg judges determined that the original Belgian complainant did not need to provide absolute proof of election irregularities. Instead, substantial indications were sufficient, meaning the responsibility for clarifying the situation lies with the state, not with the plaintiff.
BSW national chief Fabio De Masi told the magazine that the ECtHR has established that complete proof is unnecessary. This contrasts sharply with the Bundestag, which demands that the BSW provide such conclusive proof-a standard that can only be met through a complete recount of all votes.
