TV duel between AfD and BSW
When it comes to migration, there is a clash between Weidel and Wagenknecht
October 9, 2024, 9:44 p.m
AfD and BSW are often said to have similarities in their demands. This thesis is initially confirmed in the TV duel between the bosses, Weidel and Wagenknecht. The first differences become apparent when it comes to debt, but things are very high when it comes to migration.
It started with a brief pause for politeness. When asked the first question by moderator Jan Philipp Burgard in the so-called TV duel, Alice Weidel and Sahra Wagenknecht politely hesitated for a second and let each other go first. Then the AfD leader and the founder of the alliance, Sahra Wagenknecht, got started in the Welt TV studio. And the longer it went on, the more heated things became.
The duel between the two top women was also a warm-up for the federal election next year. In surveys nationwide, the AfD is at 17 to 20 percent, the BSW at 7 to 9 percent. Neither of them currently has any prospects of joining the federal government. But after the state elections in East Germany, both parties see themselves on a wave of success.
As he often does, Weidel appeared in muted colors – dark blue blazer, pearl necklace. Wagenknecht had chosen the neon green costume. At the beginning, this seemed to be the biggest contrast between the two party leaders.
Economy, education, Middle East, Ukraine: Weidel and Wagenknecht seemed to agree on a lot of things at first. “Ms. Wagenknecht is absolutely right,” said Weidel about the criticism of high energy costs and dilapidated infrastructure. Wagenknecht returned the favor with a “I agree” when it came to savings options in the household.
Weidel accuses BSW of stealing ideas
Wagenknecht advocated the use of Russian gas and called the Russia sanctions an own goal. On the subject of Ukraine, Wagenknecht emphasized that urgent attempts should be made to bring about a negotiated peace. “Ukraine will not be able to win this war, we have to negotiate.” Weidel said: “These are AfD positions that we have presented from the beginning.” She now finds that “a bit cheap,” replied Wagenknecht.
Moderator Burgard tried again and again to work out the differences – and found them, among other things, on the topic of debt. Wagenknecht spoke out in favor of loans for investments in infrastructure. Weidel insisted on the debt brake. In the war in the Middle East, the AfD is unilaterally siding with the Israeli government, Wagenknecht claimed. Weidel emphasized that every country has the right to self-defense. Both agreed that Germany should not supply weapons to Israel.
Broadsides against Höcke – “I find it so scary”
However, when it came to the topic of migration, the two really clashed. The AfD and BSW actually agree on the demand for a tougher course when it comes to migration policy. However, Wagenknecht accused Weidel of stirring up resentment on the issue and of allowing herself to be harnessed by right-wing extremists in her party.
She repeatedly mentioned Thuringia’s AfD state leader Björn Höcke. For minutes, Wagenknecht read from a book by Höcke, where he spoke, among other things, of “well-tempered cruelty”. The far-right wing of the AfD under Höcke has “become stronger and more powerful” in recent years, said Wagenknecht. She added in the direction of Weidel: “I think it’s a problem that at some point you stopped fighting these people and instead came to terms with them.”
The BSW boss came to the conclusion: “I find it so scary.” When asked by the moderator, she “of course” ruled out a coalition with people who were in the “neo-Nazi swamp.” Such a coalition would be “not an asset but a threat” for Germany.
Weidel then took her turn against Wagenknecht and said that she was sitting in a glass house when it came to extremism. Wagenknecht was initially active in the SED, later in the PDS, the Left Party and now in the BSW. As a member of the Communist Platform, Wagenknecht represented communist theses and glorified Stalinism, said Weidel. Wagenknecht dismissed this as a kind of youthful sin and emphasized that she now represented completely different positions and that Weidel should please quote correctly.
For Wagenknecht, Weidel is conservative
According to moderator Burgard, it was the first time that both party leaders met live in a duel. During the course of the broadcast, Weidel complained several times that Wagenknecht had been allowed to answer in more detail. Wagenknecht often addressed the AfD leader directly and accused her of treating the BSW unfairly. The point was that Weidel had accused the new party of being a “stirrup holder” for established parties.
In fact, Weidel said: “The people in this country want political change. But it cannot happen because the BSW acts as a stirrup holder.” She added: “No political change will be possible with you.”
After the electoral successes for the AfD and BSW in Thuringia, Saxony and Brandenburg, possible power options are being discussed in both parties. Despite high poll numbers, the AfD currently lacks potential government partners. All other parties ruled out coalitions with the party, which was partly classified as right-wing extremist. Weidel had repeatedly described the so-called firewall as undemocratic.
In the end, however, both of them found a respectful tone again. Burgard asked them to rate each other on a right-left scale. “I think Ms. Weidel represents conservative positions,” said Wagenknecht conciliatorily. The only problem is that “the Höckes” dominate the AfD. Weidel, for her part, said: “What I like about Ms. Wagenknecht is that she sees things in a differentiated way” and: “I think she has a very balanced profile.” And then it was over.