Wagenknecht sees further need for talks after state elections

BSW founder Sahra Wagenknecht has taken a wait-and-see approach to talks between her party and the CDU and SPD following the state elections in Saxony, Thuringia and Brandenburg. While she still had the feeling after the elections that both the CDU and SPD had "understood" the election results, she now has the impression that the parties want to carry on as before, Wagenknecht told Deutschlandfunk radio. "And that's not what we were elected for."

About half of the people in the East had "voted for change". Then you also have to be prepared to make compromises. With regard to the talks in Thuringia, Wagenknecht said that there are "still a number of things where we cannot agree".

The CDU, BSW and SPD are currently in exploratory negotiations in Thuringia. Various committees of the three parties are expected to discuss an exploratory paper drawn up by the negotiators at the end of the week. In Saxony, the three parties are holding "introductory talks". In Brandenburg, the BSW and SPD are exploring the issue.

Wagenknecht criticizes Merz

Wagenknecht criticized statements by CDU leader Friedrich Merz on the possible cooperation between his party and the BSW at state level. Merz had recently said on the ARD program "Caren Miosga": "Ms Wagenknecht has to accept that there are decisions that are irrevocable." These are the commitment to the West and Nato membership.

Wagenknecht now said that it was not helpful that Merz dictated to his negotiators at state level what they were not allowed to do. "We had a different position in the past."