Election campaign without a name: Katja Wolf on BSW and the power of Sahra Wagenknecht

Election campaign without a name: Katja Wolf on BSW and the power of Sahra Wagenknecht

The political landscape in Germany is shaped by developments surrounding the Alliance for Social Justice and Economic Reason, or BSW for short. Katja Wolf, the BSW state leader in Thuringia, recently expressed her thoughts about the party's new name. Her assessment is clear: she would have liked a later name change because she is convinced that the party would have performed more successfully with its old name in the elections in Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Changing the name was a significant decision that was met with mixed feelings. However, Wolf can live with the new name because it reflects the party's core brand well and formulates a clear profile against the AfD.

The party currently has around 5,000 members and plans to continue using the abbreviation BSW, as can be heard from the presidium and board. A decisive BSW party conference in Magdeburg in early December will make the final decision on the name and future direction of the party. In this context, Wolf hopes that Sahra Wagenknecht, the party leader and BSW's best-known face, will retain her leadership position. After her break with the Left in 2024, she founded the BSW and has had a major influence on the party's political agenda ever since.

Who makes the plans for the future?

Whether Wagenknecht will run again as chairwoman at the upcoming party conference is still unclear. Wolf expressed the wish that Wagenknecht would continue to bring her popularity and political impulses to the party. She describes the disagreements between the Thuringian regional association and the party leadership as “old coffee” and calls for cohesion within the party. There is currently intense discussion in Thuringia, but Wolf has ruled out taking a leadership position in the federal party herself because she is satisfied with her work in Thuringia.

BSW has recently had a mixed record. Despite successful results in the European elections and the East German state elections, it narrowly failed to pass the five percent hurdle in the federal election. Wolf emphasizes that a lot of work is still needed on the program in order to position the party for the future. The challenges are great, and it remains to be seen how BSW will develop with or without Wagenknecht's personalization.

Health data at a glance

BSW Health an easy-to-use app that gives users access to lab results, appointments, prescriptions and medical records. The ability to book appointments online and plan virtual visits is appreciated by many.

Additionally, users can send direct messages to their providers and care team to address health questions. Particularly practical is the easy management of health data for family members, making all the necessary information for appointment scheduling and medical records available at all times. With this digital support, people gain the ability to organize and manage their health information effectively.

At a time when political and health issues often go hand in hand, it remains exciting to see how the BSW will adapt its strategy and what role digital health solutions could play in the party's future development.