So, somebody recently asked me to do a Marxist–Leninist reading of the conservative-left party Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) the party is currently still operating under that name, though a potential rebranding is expected. I am half German, so I figured I would write a short, factual overview of what the party is, where it comes from, and how it positions itself.

We can discuss theory and critique in the comments afterward.

Quick Summary

  • The” BSW” was created as a splinter group from “Die Linke”.
  • Die Linke” itself is also the product of earlier mergers and splits in German left politics.
  • The party was initially founded and led by Sahra Wagenknecht, but this was or is about to change.
  • Wagenknecht is married to Oskar Lafontaine, former SPD leader and prominent figure in Die Linke. She grew up in the GDR and is half-Iranian.
  • In the European Parliament, BSW sits with the Unified European Left (UEL), not GUE/NGL.

Sahra Wagenknecht: Background & Profile

Sahra Wagenknecht is one of the most prominent figures in German politics, known for her mix of left-leaning economic positions and culturally conservative messaging.

  • ** Early life & ideology:**

Born in the GDR to an East-German mother and Iranian father, she entered the PDS (the post-SED party) in the early 1990s. Her early writings were more traditionally Marxist, though her later positions diverge sharply from orthodox Marxism.

  • Career in Die Linke:

Served as Bundestag representative, economic spokesperson, and co-chair of the parliamentary faction. She became known for criticizing neoliberal reforms and EU austerity.

  • Internal conflicts:

Repeated disputes with other factions of Die Linke, especially over migration, cultural politics, and foreign policy, led to her eventual split.

  • Public image:

Combines left-wing economic rhetoric with conservative cultural critiques. Highly media-savvy and frequently on talk shows. She also writes a lot of books.

  • Personal ties:

Her marriage to Oskar Lafontaine further ties her to older social-democratic and post-communist political networks.

The BSW: Ideological & Policy Profile

The BSW positions itself as a party for “social justice, economic stability, and common sense,” blending social-democratic economics with socially conservative themes.

  • Economic Policy

Strongly interventionist; supports state regulation and higher taxes on the wealthy. Critical of privatization; favours re-municipalization of key services. Focus on cost-of-living issues, housing, and industrial decline. Pro-industrial strategy but anti-corporate in rhetoric.

  • Social & Cultural Policy

Rejects identity politics and “lifestyle leftism.” More restrictive migration stance than most European left parties. Emphasis on social cohesion, stability, and communitarian values.

  • Foreign Policy

Critical of NATO and U.S. foreign policy. Opposes weapons deliveries to Ukraine, favours negotiations and sanctions relief. Seeks restoration of economic ties with Russia (while officially condemning the invasion). Sceptical of deeper EU integration.

  • Environmental Policy

Supports climate goals but rejects consumption bans and “eco-austerity.” Emphasizes technological investment over regulatory restrictions.

Controversies, Local-Level Behaviour & Criticism

  • Local gains but conservative cooperation:

While BSW has achieved notable success in eastern state elections, it often cooperates with conservative or centrist parties at the local/state level, which critics view as inconsistent with its left-economic message .

  • Strong anti-“woke” stance:

The party sharply criticizes identity politics, gender policies, and cultural liberalism. This appeals to certain working-class voters but alienates much of the traditional left.

  • Accusations of pro-Kremlin alignment:

Opponents argue its Ukraine and NATO positions echo Russian narratives. These are political allegations; the party denies them, and verified evidence of Kremlin funding is lacking.

  • There was some suspicion on who funded the party , German news and donation watch list one family (listed as Thomas Stanger) that donated millions to the party.

  • Backlash over Ukraine-related remarks:

Wagenknecht has faced criticism for comments perceived as overly sympathetic to Russia or dismissive of Ukrainian concerns, though some viral claims are unverified or misrepresented.

The BSW is not a Marxist–Leninist party, nor does it claim to be its program is reformist, populist, and firmly within the framework of capitalist parliamentary politics.

Anyways, if you find something that is incorrect pls feel free to correct me. Also leave your comments and thoughts below.

N.B: This is in no way to promote this party. This post is more about informing people about it and critically discussing issues arising from such parties.

    • Muehe@lemmy.ml
      6·
      14 hours ago

      Guessing you mean getting the text under the bullet points to be part of the list, there is a trick to it. Well two actually.

      The first is ending a line with two spaces, this tells the markdown interpreter to do a line-break (which it normally ignores) and prevents the list from breaking. Example 1 below has spaces at the end of the list and the first text line, example two doesn’t.

      The other is indenting the paragraphs 4 spaces (or 8,12,16,… if you are deeper into a cascading list). Example 3 has the indent, therefore the list doesn’t break and example 4 is numbered correctly. But example 4 has no indent, therefore breaks the list, and the ordered list numbering starts over from 1 in the next list item.

      I used an ordered list here for demonstration purposes, note how it automatically increases numbering until the last point although the source text always says 1. But the principle works the same with unordered lists (bullet points), unindented paragraphs will break lists.

      So this source text:

      1. **OL 1**  
text preceded by 2 spaces and a newline  
text preceded by 2 spaces and a newline
1. **OL 2**
just newline, no spaces
just newline, no spaces
1. **OL 3**

    New paragraph indented by 4 spaces

1. **OL 4**

Unindented new paragraph breaks the list, note the numbering resetting

1. **OL 5**  
text preceded by 2 spaces and a newline

    New paragraph indented by 4 spaces
1. **OL 6**

      Will turn into this list:

      1. OL 1
        text preceded by 2 spaces and a newline
        text preceded by 2 spaces and a newline

      2. OL 2 just newline, no spaces just newline, no spaces

      3. OL 3

        New paragraph indented by 4 spaces

      4. OL 4

      Unindented new paragraph breaks the list, note the numbering resetting

      1. OL 5
        text preceded by 2 spaces and a newline

        New paragraph indented by 4 spaces

      2. OL 6

      Edit: Added combination of the two methods in example 5.