Episode 141: Germany’s Other Populist Party

What this episode covers

The BSW (formerly the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance, now Alliance for Social Justice and Economic Reason) had early successes after its founding in 2024, winning seats in the European Parliament and three state parliaments in eastern Germany. The BSW appeared poised to exploit a left-populist, anti-migration message and become a fixture on the political landscape. However, the BSW’s fortunes turned in 2025; they missed the threshold to join the Bundestag by less than 10,000 votes (the party has challenged the result in court), and Sahra Wagenknecht stepped down as party leader in November. Nevertheless, the party has the potential to influence two state elections later this year in eastern Germany. With the party’s federal position in limbo, Jan Philipp Thomeczek joins The Zeitgeist to discuss the evolution of the BSW and their struggle to maintain relevance in 2026. Host Jeff Rathke, President, AGI Guests Eric Langenbacher, AGI Senior Fellow; Director, Society, Culture & Politics Program Jan Philipp Thomeczek, Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Potsdam