Wagenknecht: "Coalition partners must talk to me"

BSW leader Sahra Wagenknecht sees herself as the first point of contact for potential coalition partners of her party in Thuringia and Saxony. "Anyone who wants to form a coalition with us must also talk to me," said the leader of the alliance Sahra Wagenknecht on Monday in Berlin. "I think a face-to-face meeting is more appropriate than a phone call." However, the actual coalition negotiations would take place in the country. Wagenknecht said that this would be about technical details.

Wagenknecht sees overlaps with the potential coalition partner CDU in areas such as education and internal security. It is important that there are no "social cuts" in either country and the question of how this can be financed, for example by cutting "superfluous things". She added: "I hope that everyone realizes that something has to improve noticeably for the people." People must regain the feeling that the government cares about them.

At the same time, Wagenknecht reiterated her demand that the state governments take a stand for a change of course on arms deliveries to Ukraine and against the stationing of US medium-range missiles in Germany. "It's about the state government taking a stand," said Wagenknecht. The respective Minister President must also represent this position to the outside world. The CDU has reservations on this point.

Wagenknecht's party, which was only founded in January, came third in the state elections in Thuringia and Saxony on Sunday. The CDU could form governments with the BSW and other coalition partners. BSW General Secretary Christian Leye made it clear that his party would not refrain from doing so for tactical reasons: "If necessary, we are prepared to take on responsibility."