Klaus von Dohnanyi, former First Mayor of Hamburg and ex-Federal Minister of Education, has expressed disappointment with the trajectory of the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW).
In remarks published Friday, von Dohnanyi stated he regrets that Wagenknecht hasn’t fully developed her political positioning. He noted the BSW’s ability to attract voters formerly aligned with the Alternative for Germany (AfD) in eastern Germany, while simultaneously advocating for a rational peace policy – a position he shares.
He also indicated a degree of agreement with the BSW’s stances on migration, stating Wagenknecht offered some approaches he could fundamentally support, but lamented that she was unable to build on those ideas as effectively as he had hoped.
Regarding the future of the BSW, von Dohnanyi said predictions are difficult, but expressed concern over the AfD’s continued growth, which in some polls now places it level with the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). He warned that a few challenging economic situations in Germany could propel the AfD to become the country’s strongest political force, a development he described as deeply regrettable and one that should be actively countered.
He similarly stated that the consequences for Germany if the AfD were to attain that leading position are uncertain, emphasizing that, in his view, such an outcome would not be beneficial for the country.
