Ex-leftist explains change of heart
Wagenknecht now wants to lead his own party
December 17, 2023, 6:23 p.m
She had actually rejected it, now the U-turn: Sahra Wagenknecht could lead her own party – at least in a dual leadership. In an interview she describes her change of opinion. She also talks about why not everyone can become a member straight away.
Contrary to previous statements, long-time left-wing politician Sahra Wagenknecht is ready to lead her new party at least in a dual leadership capacity. Wagenknecht told the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung” that she was reconsidering the question of the presidency “since a lot of people asked me to do so.” “There will probably be dual leadership.” She added: “One person alone cannot do everything.”
When asked whether she would be part of a dual leadership, Wagenkecht replied “Yes.” Until now, Wagenknecht had spoken out against taking over the leadership of her party, which is to be founded in January. She had suggested Amira Mohamed Ali, who had once succeeded her as the Left Party’s parliamentary group leader in the Bundestag.
Wagenknecht, Ali and eight other members of the Bundestag left the Left in October to form a new party. The Left parliamentary group in the Bundestag lost its parliamentary group status in the Bundestag because of the resignations and wants to be recognized as a parliamentary group – including the BSW. The new party will most likely be founded on January 8th, and the first party conference is planned for January 27th in Berlin.
In the FAZ interview, Wagenknecht made it clear with regard to her new party that not everyone who wanted to could become party members straight away. “We want to get to know our members beforehand,” she said. Young parties “unfortunately also attract difficult people,” she explained. “That’s why we have to pay attention to who comes into the party.” The party will start “with several hundred members”. There are people in every country who are responsible for the development. Regarding the question of whether previous party membership in the AfD would be an obstacle, Wagenknecht said there would be no direct change.