Leader of Germany’s populist BSW slams ‘blockade’ in mainstream media

The leader of Germany’s populist Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) has complained of a “blockade in the mainstream media” as she tied her political future to the results of national elections on February 23.

In comments released on Wednesday, Wagenknecht told dpa that any parties that do not achieve the 5% threshold usually needed to enter the lower house of parliament, or Bundestag, “is no longer a relevant factor in German politics.”

The BSW, founded last year after Wagenknecht splintered from The Left, has fallen in recent polls, hovering around the 5% mark. “I’m confident that we’ll make it,” said Wagenknecht.

Wagenknecht has set out a five-point plan to reduce taxes, rent levels and the cost of living, promising to save German residents €100 ($104) a month on average.

Other policies include a €15 per hour minimum wage and the abolition of the carbon dioxide (CO2) tax.

The self-styled “left conservative” party is best known for its opposition to migration and German support for Ukraine.

It achieved strong results in state elections in eastern Germany in September 2024, entering governing coalitions in Brandenburg and Thuringia, but it has failed to build on the momentum in the current election campaign.

The 55-year-old has complained of a “blockade against the BSW in the mainstream media.”

“The old parties are fighting us,” she added.