Germany’s populist Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) is hoping to upset the polls again on Sunday in the north-eastern state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, two weeks after the pro-Russia, anti-immigrant party pulled off a surprise in Saxony-Anhalt.
At a campaign event in Rostock on Thursday, party founder Sahra Wagenknecht said she expects the BSW to earn between 6% and 8% of the vote in the coastal state, which would be a jump from the 3% to 4% in the latest polling. The party is in a similar position in the polls in Berlin, which also votes on Sunday.
Under Germany’s electoral system, parties must pass the 5% threshold to win seats in parliament. The BSW is very familiar with the hurdle, having missed out on representation in the Bundestag – the lower house of the German parliament – after taking 4.98% in the national 2025 election.
However, in Saxony-Anhalt two weeks ago, the party defied expectations to enter the parliament with 5.3% of the vote, positioning it as a kingmaker. The state chapter has agreed to hold talks with the Alternative for Germany (AfD), potentially paving the way for the far-right party to lead a state government for the first time.
Founded in 2024 as a splinter from The Left, the BSW has developed a populist platform centred on left-wing economic positions and opposition to immigration.
Speaking in front of several hundred people on Thursday, Wagenknecht again addressed her party’s key issues, including the call for cheap energy from Russia, an increase in pensions, improvements to health care services and an end to aid for Ukraine.
“We do not want our country to be driven into the ground, nor do we want to be dragged into a major war,” said Wagenknecht.