The far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the left-wing party Alliance for Social Justice and Economic Reason (BSW) in the parliament of the German state of Saxony-Anhalt have called for an immediate end to all financial and military aid to Ukraine. This proposal was approved in a special session that included a vote, and both parties have asked the state premier, Sven Schulze, to take action in the Bundesrat (the upper house of Germany) for peace negotiations with Russia.
Political Consequences
However, this proposal will not have a direct impact on Germany's policies towards Ukraine, as states have limited powers in foreign policy. Claudia Witting, a BSW representative in the state parliament, urged Schulze to act for peace, stating: "It is your responsibility to use every possible means to work towards peace." This request faced sharp criticism from other parties, with Stefan Roland, a CDU representative, saying: "Anyone who calls for a ceasefire only from the side that has been attacked is not only calling for peace but is also calling for surrender."
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New Alliances
This special session was held while negotiations for forming a new government in Saxony-Anhalt were ongoing. The AfD party was recognized as the dominant party after winning nearly 44 percent of the votes in the September 2026 elections, but it has not yet reached an absolute majority in the state parliament and needs support from other parties to govern. BSW, which has recently gained representation in the state parliament, is the only party willing to negotiate with AfD to form a government. However, due to the classification of AfD as a "far-right" party by security agencies, other parties have rejected any cooperation.
Political analysts like Armin Pfahl-Traughber have pointed out that the common ground between these two parties lies in their rejection of the existing political system, their pro-Putin stance, and their criticism of Germany's support for Ukraine. BSW was established in 2024 as a splinter from the left-wing socialist party. Its founder, Sahra Wagenknecht, faced pressure within the left-wing party due to her criticisms of Germany's economic policies and her social positions, ultimately leading to her departure.
The AfD party has also repeatedly supported Putin's regime. For example, Björn Höcke, the AfD state leader in Thuringia, described Russia as "the hero of a free and independent world" immediately after the start of the war between Russia and Ukraine. This closeness between the two parties drew attention after a meeting in early October, where representatives of AfD and BSW in Saxony-Anhalt gathered for a trust-building dinner.
According to Jürgen Elser, the host of the event, the idea of creating a "cross-front" coalition between the far-left and far-right in opposition to the German political system is being promoted. This idea dates back to the 1930s when nationalist conservative forces sought cooperation with leftist political elements. Analysts consider this collaboration a threat to democracy, believing that both BSW and AfD represent Kremlin interests and have similar goals domestically.
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