Sahra Wagenknecht’s political alliance is set for a name change in the next legislative period, though it will still be known by the familiar three-letter abbreviation, BSW. In an interview with Der Spiegel journalist Markus Feldenkirchen, Wagenknecht confirmed the planned rebranding, emphasizing the importance of maintaining recognition.
“We will certainly not change the abbreviation. We are glad that people now know who BSW is,” she stated. One possibility under discussion is Alliance for Security and Wealth, but nothing is final yet.
The renaming aims to counter claims of a personality cult surrounding Wagenknecht. Initially, the party took her name for visibility, but she insists, “This is not for eternity.” However, the issue was put on the back burner due to more pressing priorities in the party’s first year.
BSW’s Support Drops
Meanwhile, the party’s poll numbers are slipping dangerously close to the Bundestag’s five percent threshold. Recent surveys by Forschungsgruppe Wahlen and Infratest dimap place BSW at just four percent, while Forsa reports an even lower three percent. Only Insa gives a more optimistic six percent. Just months ago, BSW was polling at eight to ten percent.
If Wagenknecht fails to secure parliamentary representation, the party’s future could be in jeopardy. Some insiders have already warned of “tendencies to decay.” Acknowledging the challenge, Wagenknecht admitted, “The five percent hurdle exists,” but denied that the renaming signals any personal retreat.
