German political newcomer Sahra Wagenknecht expressed her “joy” and “relief” at the performance of her party, the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW), in the European elections.
“There is great potential,” Wagenknecht told public broadcaster ARD on Sunday evening. She said she now wants to build on this in subsequent elections.
According to projections by broadcaster ARD, BSW reached 5.7% in the European elections in Germany.
This was the first time that the party was tested at the polls.
Wagenkecht, who opposes arms supplies to Ukraine, emphasized that he believes a diplomatic initiative is needed in Russia’s war. “Many people are worried that war will come to us too.”
The populist party combines a left-wing social policy with an anti-immigrant stance and criticism of the European Union.
When asked where BSW is now on the partisan spectrum, Wagenknecht, a former star politician for the far-left Die Linke (The Left), said: “It’s not on the right.”
