Surveillance and Controversies
Wagenknecht’s outspoken nature and radical views often put her at odds with not just her political opponents but also within her party. In early 2012, it was reported that she was one of 27 Left Party Bundestag members whose writings and speeches were being monitored by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Germany’s domestic security agency.
Aufstehen Movement
In 2018, Wagenknecht was instrumental in founding Aufstehen, a left-wing political movement inspired by France’s La France Insoumise. The movement sought to address social and economic inequalities and to mobilize grassroots support outside of traditional party structures. Despite an initial surge of interest and participation, internal conflicts and organizational challenges led Wagenknecht to step back from a leadership role in 2019, citing personal workload pressures and the need for the movement’s grassroots to take charge.
Formation of Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW)
By 2021, ongoing conflicts within The Left prompted Wagenknecht to consider forming her own party. This idea came to fruition in September 2023 when she announced the formation of the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance political party, better known as Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW), which officially launched in early 2024. The new party aims to contest future elections with a focus on populist and left-wing policies, seeking to address the concerns of those disillusioned with mainstream parties.