The 2024 European Elections not only saw increased vote shares for the radical right but also debuted the recently launched Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) with an impressive 6.2% vote share. Before the German federal election 2025, the parliamentary group held ten seats in German parliament and was led by former THE LEFT politician Sahra Wagenknecht. Wagenknecht’s long-term anti-immigration stance suggests the emergence of a new left-authoritarian platform. This research delves into the demand for BSW and its left-authoritarian agenda within Germany. Leveraging individual-level data analysis, we investigate the structural factors influencing preferences for Wagenknecht’s new party. Our findings show that those expressing scepticism towards immigration and weapon supplies to Ukraine are predicted to be more likely to support BSW. Most importantly, this study finds that one’s perception of party leader Wagenknecht is the driving force behind BSW support. By examining the electoral potential of BSW under Wagenknecht’s leadership, this study provides crucial insights into the evolving dynamics of German politics and the ramifications of this new entrant on the political spectrum.
