Germany’s left-sovereigntist BSW party, which missed entering the Bundestag by just 9,529 votes, continues to demand a full recount of the federal election. After months of pressure, Sahra Wagenknecht’s organization is now receiving support from the anti-immigration Alternative für Deutschland party (AfD).
According to AfD Parliamentary Managing Director Stephan Brandner
As things stand, we will vote for a recount…. absolute clarity is essential.
Brandner is concerned with both confidence in free elections and the true size of the parliamentary majority—and therefore the government’s legitimacy.
BSW leaders Sahra Wagenknecht and Amira Mohamed Ali have publicly complained that the Bundestag election review committee is delaying its decision. They even appealed directly to President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
The party’s challenge gained momentum after earlier checks revealed 4,277 additional votes for BSW, reducing the gap to just 0.019 percentage points. Wagenknecht and designated successor Fabio De Masi argue that many more votes may have been misattributed or incorrectly declared invalid, particularly for smaller parties placed low on long ballot papers.
A recent INSA poll shows the public divided, with 36% supporting a recount and 30% opposing it. Support is especially strong among BSW and AfD voters.
