'Rooie Sahra' Dances to Putin's Tune in Germany
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World
October 27, 2024 13:40
berlin - Sahra Wagenknecht, a prominent figure in East Germany's leftist populists, demands no weapons for Ukraine, no sanctions against Russia, and no American missiles for protection.
Sahra Wagenknecht, also known as 'Rooie Sahra', is making headlines in Germany with her demands for no weapons for Ukraine, no sanctions against Russia, and no American missiles for protection. The 55-year-old Wagenknecht, a prominent figure in East Germany's leftist populists, has been a frequent guest on German talk shows for years. Her anti-Americanism, rooted in her experiences growing up in communist East Germany, has fueled her political ideology.
Wagenknecht, who was a member of the Communist Platform for many years, advocates for Germany's withdrawal from NATO and the EU, seeking closer ties with Putin's Russia. In the states of Saxony, Brandenburg, and Thuringia, her party is in a position to influence the policies of the regional governments formed by the center-right CDU and center-left SPD.
Despite regional governments in Germany mainly focusing on local issues such as transportation, policing, and education, Wagenknecht has been demanding a shift in the country's foreign policy. Her stance against providing weapons to Ukraine has put her at odds with Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative CDU, especially after Friedrich Merz's ultimatum to Putin regarding the situation in Ukraine.
Wagenknecht's pro-Russian views have resonated with many in East Germany, where anti-American sentiment still lingers decades after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Ilko-Sascha Kowalczuk, a historian, notes that there is a strong anti-American sentiment in East Germany due to the region's history of Soviet influence and occupation.
The divide between East and West Germany has been a recurring theme in German politics, with Wagenknecht's movement representing a segment of society that longs for the authoritarian stability of the past. As political tensions rise, the future of Germany's foreign policy remains uncertain.