New populist German party BSW to get state funding after EU elections

Upstart German populist political party Alliance Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) is expecting millions in tax funding for upcoming campaigns after making a strong debut in the European Parliament elections.

"We expect to receive around €2.75 million ($2.94 million) from partial state funding for our successful performance in the European elections," BSW treasurer Ralph Suikat told the Spiegel news magazine.

That money is expected to flow in 2025.

In the European Parliament elections earlier this month, the BSW received about 6.2% nationwide, a total of around 2.45 million votes.

The party's namesake founder, Sahra Wagenknecht, was a long-time leading member in Germany's far-left The Left but bolted and launched her own party in January.

The BSW has campaigned on a mix of traditional left-wing economic policy and hard-right stances such as opposition to immigration.

Parties that achieved at least 0.5% in that election are entitled to state funding. The amount depends, among other things, on their electoral results and fundraising from donations.

According to Suikat, the BSW can currently draw on donations amounting to €8 million.

For the upcoming state parliamentary elections in three eastern German states in September, the BSW is planning a total budget of €1.3 million.

The BSW received several donations this year that are considered very large for German politics. For example, a private individual donated €990,000 in January and another €4.09 million shortly afterwards.