2024-03-22 05:46:43
Wagenknecht wants to steal votes from the AfD – and according to surveys, he could actually do it. AfD leader Alice Weidel now wants to change the strategy in dealing with the left-wing populist.
Nervousness is increasing in the AfD party headquarters. The reason: Sahra Wagenknecht. The former left-wing politician had announced that she wanted to steal votes from the AfD with her party “Alliance Sahra Wagenknecht” (BSW). And it seems to be successful – at least in one federal state.
While the AfD in Saxony remains stable at around 34 percent according to surveys, approval in Thuringia has fallen to below 30 percent in the Thuringia Trend that has just been published – for the first time in a year. The AfD, which appears particularly radical under Björn Höcke, has lost five percentage points compared to the last Thuringia Trend survey in July 2023. And Wagenknecht’s party, polled for the first time, achieved 15 percent straight away.
Is Wagenknecht now putting a stop to the AfD’s big Eastern plan? The state elections in 2024 should ultimately be a breakthrough for the party: it is currently the strongest force in all three states where elections will be held in September (Thuringia, Saxony, Brandenburg). Its officially declared goal is to gain government power in Thuringia and Saxony for the first time. Or at least 33 percent, at least the so-called blocking minority, with which many important legislative proposals can be blocked.
Höcke in particular has appeared self-confident for months: he drives around in a car with the license plate “MP 2024” (abbreviation for “Prime Minister 2024”), has already announced parts of his planned government program and is working on a shadow cabinet. But that could now remain nothing more than a fantasy.
Weidel: “Wagenknecht is politically very talented”
The changes in the survey values are precisely registered at the AfD headquarters in Berlin. “Sahra Wagenknecht also appeals to some of the AfD’s voter base. We can also see this in the current survey results,” says AfD leader Alice Weidel. The AfD frontwoman appreciates Wagenknecht and clearly has respect for her: “She is politically very talented, has good rhetorical skills and is also popular with our electorate.”
So far, the AfD has reacted little to Wagenknecht. The main enemy of the right-wing populist to right-wing extremist party is the traffic light government, especially the Greens. The AfD repeatedly bases its election campaign on them.
But that could now change: “We have two options: ignore or attack directly,” says Weidel, referring to Wagenknecht’s alliance. “I think a mixture of both is appropriate.”
Populism super battle on TV?
Weidel would also take over the counterattack himself. She says she would like to go into a TV duel with Wagenknecht, like the one planned for April between the Thuringian CDU leader Mario Voigt and AfD leader Björn Höcke. Then it would be: Front woman of the right-wing populists against front woman of the left-wing populists. The populism super battle.
“Of course I would be ready for such a TV duel,” Weidel tells t-online. “I can well imagine that it could attract a lot of interest from the public.” And Wagenknecht is not averse either. When asked by t-online, her office said: “If a TV station invites Ms. Wagenknecht together with Ms. Weidel, she is of course willing to have a discussion.”
Weidel believes that he has already identified Wagenknecht’s biggest weakness: In contrast to the AfD, the BSW does not have a clear program. “The program is simply Sahra Wagenknecht,” she says.