Who is Sahra Wagenknecht, the left-wing populist who is aiming to win the European elections in Germany

Who is Sahra Wagenknecht? A name that may sound unknown to most, but in view of the European elections in Germany she could be the big surprise at the polls so much so that in Brussels they expect a sort of "earthquake" among the ranks of the left-wing benches.
If in recent years we have heard of "populist" leaders almost exclusively in reference to right-wing political exponents, Sahra Wagenknecht has instead earned this nickname despite being a historic exponent of the left in Germany.
After a long militancy in Die Linke – the historic party of the German left -, in September 2023 Sahra Wagenknecht led the split of the branch which follows the path of left-wing nationalism more convincingly, founding the new party BSW (Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance).
According to polls recently released in Germany ahead of the 2024 European elections, BSW would now have 8% or double the votes attributed to Die Linke.
Given the terrible moment of the Social Democrats, there would also be further room for growth for this new party.
Sahra Wagenknecht is thus preparing not only to be the big surprise of the vote in Germany, but also in Brussels she would be ready to give life to a new parliamentary group: by law a minimum of 23 deputies from at least seven different countries are needed, with contacts that would in Corso La France Insoumise by Jean-Luc Melenchon and with the Nordic left.
read also European elections Germany 2024: parties, electoral law and polls Sahra Wagenknecht's biography Name: Sahra Wagenknecht Date of birth: 16 July 1969 Place: Jena (Germany) Family: her father is Iranian and her mother German; she is married for the second time to the German politician Oskar Lafontaine Education: doctorate in Political Economy Work: politician and journalist Party: BSW, previously Die Linke Role: she is the leader of the BSW party, MP since 2009 and previously MEP from 2004 to 2009 Curiosity: in 1996 he obtained an MA at the University of Groningen with a thesis on Karl Marx's interpretation of Hegel Political thought and the European elections in Germany Sahra Wagenknecht has long been one of the most prominent politicians in Germany, causing discussion for her clear positions on delicate topics – such as Berlin's exit from NATO – so much so that she is defined as a populist leader.
Wagenknecht grew up in East Berlin and immediately began to get involved in politics with an orthodox Marxist faction.
After moving to the PDS (Party of Democratic Socialism) in the 2004 European elections she was elected MEP, then moving to Die Linke where since 2009 she has always been elected to the Bundestag.
The decision to leave Die Linke and found BSW was dictated by the need to carry forward more radical positions than those of the historic German left party, with the polls currently seeming to support Sahra Wagenknecht.
In fact, Germany is experiencing a period of profound economic and social crisis, with the far-right AfD rising strongly in the polls and BSW preparing to do the same with regards to the panorama of the German left.
Sahra Wagenknecht has always been considered close to Russia – she now opposes sending weapons to Ukraine – and very critical of the policies pursued by Israel with the Palestinians, positions which have earned her several criticisms now that they have erupted the two wars.
Also critical regarding the issue of immigrants who would have had negative impacts on the German working class, she recently supported farmers' protests contesting the environmental policies of the Scholz government.
Now Sahra Wagenknecht is ready to face the challenge of the European elections: if BSW were to reach double figures, then the political scenario could change in Germany with strong repercussions also in Brussels.