Wagenknecht demands return to the Russian gas: a risk for Germany?

At the yesterday's federal party conference of the Sahra Wagenknecht alliance (BSW) in Bonn, in which around 700 delegates participated, chairwoman Sahra Wagenknecht made urgent demands on the energy policy of Germany. She spoke out for the resumption of Russian gas imports and criticized the economic sanctions against Russia, which were imposed after the Ukraine attack. In their opinion, these sanctions would have nothing to do with the war, but are an "economic stimulus program for the US economy", the German and European company is a shame. "We need cheap energy," emphasized Wagenknecht and called for a focus on energy imports according to the lowest price, instead of aligning them moral and ideological criteria, such as Deutschlandfunk.de reported.

Mohamed Ali, co-chair of the BSW, took the opportunity to criticize other parties in the Bundestag and claim that they “hate” the BSW. The party congress also dealt with the election program of the BSW, which provides for the resumption of Russian gas imports, an armistice in Ukraine and a Corona investigation committee in the Bundestag. In addition, the BSW requires a minimum pension and a minimum wage of 15 euros per hour. The BSW's plans also include a conversion of the pension system and the reduction of migration by asylum procedures in safe third countries outside the EU. In the upcoming Bundestag election on February 23, 2025, the BSW is aiming to overcome the five percent hurdle, with current surveys showing support of four to six percent.

negative effects of sanctions

Sahra Wagenknecht also commented on the potential negative effects of sanctions on the German economy. She warned of the emigration of companies from Germany, which are due to the increasing energy prices. Oskar Lafontaine, former politician of the Left and SPD, supported Wagenknecht's position and demanded the recovery of the North Stream management, argued that energy prices could not be reduced without the purchase of gas and oil from Russia. In addition, Wagenknecht criticized the other parties, which she described as "bare" in relation to the provision of favorable energy and accused them of entering an overbear competition for arms expenditure, as well as from Zeit.de was reported.

The party congress mobilized the supporters of the BSW, with the member of the Bundestag Sevim Dağdelen the slogan "Ami Go Home!" cried. Co-chairman Amira Mohamed Ali criticized the media reporting and described the BSW as a "real danger to the political mainstream". Despite the current difficulties of overcoming the five percent hurdle, the BSW is determined to continue to pursue its wide-ranging program.