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The BSW prepares for its first federal election: Harsh criticism of the AfD at the conference

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In Germany, political parties are accelerating their preparations for the early federal elections scheduled for 23 February. The Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW), a new leftist party set to participate in its first federal election, finalized its election program during a party conference in Bonn.

The conference began with a short film displayed on the screen behind the lectern. It featured black-and-white photographs from the 1981 peace demonstration in Bonn’s Hofgarten, where hundreds of thousands protested against NATO’s Dual-Track Decision. “History was written here. We are continuing it,” the film declared.

The Dual-Track Decision involved NATO’s plan to modernize its nuclear arsenal by deploying U.S. Cruise Missiles and Pershing II missiles in Europe while simultaneously pursuing arms control negotiations with the USSR. If successful, these negotiations would render the missile deployments unnecessary.

‘Hamburg opposition’ to Wagenknecht excluded from the conference

Katja Wolf, Thuringia’s co-chairwoman and occasional critic of BSW leader Sahra Wagenknecht, addressed the conference. She praised the party’s achievements as “absolutely impressive” and described the BSW as the “last democratic hope,” particularly in eastern Germany. Wolf expressed satisfaction with the “respectable” results in Thuringia, despite occasional tensions between the federal executive committee and the state organization.

However, the situation was different for the so-called “BSW rebels” from Hamburg. This group had recently protested the party’s strict admission policies, spoken to the media, and established their own regional association. As a result, the federal executive committee moved to expel members Dijan Lazic and Norbert Weber. Although their membership rights had already been revoked, Lazic and Weber traveled to Bonn for what Lazic termed “peace talks.” According to the Berliner Zeitung, security denied them entry, and they were surrounded by a crowd of journalists and cameramen.

The departure of Torsten Teichert, a former SPD and Left Party member from Hamburg and one of the BSW’s founders, also unsettled the party. In a letter addressed to “dear Sahra,” Teichert accused Wagenknecht of “deceiving herself and others” and secretly sympathizing with AfD ideas. He claimed that Wagenknecht was “causing a new split on the left” and argued that leftists who rejected smugness would have to become “modern conservatives.”

The AfD: A target for speakers

Despite internal tensions, the conference proceeded harmoniously, as the party leadership had hoped. The election program was approved by a large majority of the 600 members present. Key demands included the resumption of Russian gas supplies via the Nord Stream pipeline, the reintroduction of a wealth tax, a minimum pension, and a ban on mobile phones in primary schools. Additionally, the party executive board passed an urgent motion to recognize the newly established Peace, Reason, and Justice Foundation as a party-affiliated organization.

According to the Berliner Zeitung, the BSW aims to focus on swing voters during the election campaign, particularly those considering the AfD but not yet part of its core electorate. This strategy likely explains the aggressive criticism of the AfD by many speakers at the conference.

The debate between AfD chancellor candidate Alice Weidel and American billionaire Elon Musk appeared to galvanize the BSW. Secretary General Christian Leye labeled the AfD as “useful idiots of the system,” arguing that their policies serve corporations and the wealthy due to Musk’s support. Co-chair Amira Mohamed Ali remarked, “They especially hate us,” referring to the far-right competition.

Oliver Ruhnert, Berlin’s top candidate and former manager of football club Union Berlin, drew parallels between the AfD and the neo-Nazi NPD.

Mountaineer: U.S. troops and nuclear weapons out!

BSW Bundestag member Sevim Dağdelen called for the withdrawal of all U.S. troops and nuclear weapons from Germany. “We can no longer afford 37,000 U.S. soldiers in Germany. That’s why we say: Let the Yanks go home,” she declared. Dağdelen also opposed the deployment of U.S. medium-range missiles in Germany, stating, “We don’t want a war against Russia from German soil; we want peace with Russia.” Her speech earned applause from the delegates.

“The vassalage of German governments to the U.S. must finally come to an end,” Dağdelen argued, emphasizing that Germany “deserves sovereignty.”

Wagenknecht slams AfD: ‘Weidel is Musk’s fangirl’

In her speech, Wagenknecht reflected positively on her party’s first year, describing it as a source of pride. She highlighted the BSW’s emphasis on peace in coalition agreements in Brandenburg and Thuringia. Addressing critics, she said, “Your anger honors us; your anger encourages us.”

Wagenknecht acknowledged the challenges of the election campaign for a young party, noting that many voters would cast tactical ballots. However, she expressed confidence that the BSW would secure seats in the Bundestag in its first election.

She criticized AfD leader Alice Weidel’s proposal to allocate 5% of GDP to armaments, calling it “arming for Donald [Trump].” Wagenknecht also mocked Weidel’s relationship with Musk, labeling her a “submissive fan” of the billionaire.

‘Sanctions serve American interests, not Ukraine’

Wagenknecht argued that Germany needs affordable energy, not empty campaign promises. She accused the Greens of being “nauseatingly war-drunk” and criticized the German government’s alliance with the United States. According to her, the economic sanctions imposed on Russia after its invasion of Ukraine were not motivated by morality or human rights but by U.S. economic interests.

“The sanctions are an economic stimulus program for the U.S. economy and a murder program for German and European companies,” she claimed. Wagenknecht urged Germany to prioritize the lowest energy prices over ideology or double standards.

BSW aims to revive the ‘German model’

The party’s election program focuses on restoring economic prosperity through the “German model”—a social market economy with a strong SME sector, successful industrial companies, and social cohesion. Wagenknecht told RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland (RND), “Thirty years ago, many things worked better in Germany than they do today.”

The program pledges to preserve Germany’s industrial value creation, automotive production, export-oriented engineering, and medium-sized world market leaders. It also proposes transforming state-supported companies into “innovation-friendly association companies” and creating an industry fund to support start-ups with patient capital.

The BSW advocates for consumer relief measures, including the abolition of VAT on basic foodstuffs and a nationwide repair bonus. It also calls for higher taxes on large fortunes and incomes well above the average, while offering tax relief for gross incomes up to €90,000 annually. Additional proposals include abolishing statutory health insurance contributions and increasing pensions by €120 per month to offset inflation.

Closing speech by Lafontaine

Oskar Lafontaine, the 81-year-old former SPD and Left Party politician, delivered the conference’s closing speech, which ended half an hour early. He emphasized the importance of Russian energy for German industry and criticized the US for its role in the Nord Stream pipeline explosion. “Russia is a war criminal, but we shouldn’t buy gas from the U.S. either,” he argued.

Lafontaine highlighted the BSW’s unique stance on peace, disarmament, and social justice. He dismissed Weidel’s armaments proposal, accusing her of poor calculations, and condemned the Gaza tragedy as “Western nihilism.”

Europe

Europe’s largest port prepares for potential war with Russia

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According to the Financial Times, the Port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands, Europe’s largest port, has begun allocating space for NATO military cargo and planning routes for weapons shipments in preparation for a potential war with Russia.

Landing exercises will also be conducted at the port. Although the port has previously handled weapons shipments, it did not have a dedicated pier for this purpose, even during the peak of the Cold War. Under the new plan, a section of the container terminal will be refitted to allow for the safe transfer of ammunition from one ship to another.

Port Director Boudewijn Simons stated that military shipment logistics will be coordinated with the neighboring Port of Antwerp in Belgium, the EU’s second-largest. Simons emphasized that this cooperation will be particularly important for receiving cargo from the US, the UK, and Canada. “We increasingly see each other less as competitors. Of course, we compete when necessary, but we work together where we can,” said Simons, adding that when large volumes of weapons need to be transported, Rotterdam will ask Antwerp or other ports to handle part of the load, and vice versa.

The Dutch Ministry of Defence confirmed in a statement in May that the port would provide space for military shipments at NATO’s request. This decision was made within the framework of the European Union’s rearmament program, through which the bloc aims to reduce its defense dependency on the US.

The Port of Rotterdam is also used as a center for storing strategic oil reserves. In this context, Simons called on European countries to take precautions regarding other critical resources such as copper, lithium, and graphite. The EU is expected to present a “stockpiling strategy” on July 8, which will cover medical supplies, critical raw materials, energy equipment, food, and water.

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Germany’s SPD faces ‘Russia rebellion’ at party congress

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Divisions within Germany’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) over rearmament and relations with Russia are set to culminate at its upcoming congress, where party leader and finance minister Lars Klingbeil faces backlash from a faction within his party.

According to a report in the Financial Times, one of the critics of the SPD leadership is the eldest son of former SPD Chancellor Willy Brandt, who still holds significant influence over the party with his Ostpolitik (Eastern Policy), a policy of rapprochement with the Soviet Union at the height of the Cold War.

Peter Brandt, a 76-year-old historian, has co-signed an SPD motion criticizing the government’s rearmament plans and advocating for “de-escalation and a gradual return to cooperation with Russia.”

The manifesto, published ahead of this week’s SPD party conference, states, “There is a long road ahead to return to a stable order of peace and security in Europe.”

While acknowledging that strengthening the defense capabilities of Germany and Europe is “necessary,” the authors emphasize that these efforts must be “part of a strategy aimed at de-escalation and the gradual restoration of trust, not a new arms race.”

Peter Brandt told the Financial Times that Klingbeil approved the new defense spending increase “without checking if it was the majority view.” He added, “This is a problem. There isn’t as clear a stance among the members as is reflected in the leadership.”

The criticism comes as Klingbeil, deputy chancellor in the coalition government led by Christian Democrat Friedrich Merz, prepares a major “funding injection” for the military, aiming to increase the country’s defense budget by 70% by 2029.

Brandt’s words are a reminder that many Social Democrats remain reluctant to fully embrace the country’s “Zeitenwende” (turning point) in defense policy, announced by former SPD Chancellor Olaf Scholz following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

The internal rebellion could create problems for Klingbeil, who negotiated the coalition agreement with Merz after the SPD’s worst-ever election result in February. The dissenters could make it difficult for the government, which holds a slim majority of just 13 seats, to pass legislation on the budget, arms deliveries, and the planned return to compulsory military service.

Uwe Jun, a political scientist at the University of Trier, noted that while the rebels are not a majority in the SPD, they are not a small minority either. “There is a long tradition in the SPD of people who came from the peace movement of the 1970s and 1980s,” he said. “They are critical of anything related to the military.”

Klingbeil’s reorganization of the party leadership following the election fiasco has further fueled the controversy. The 47-year-old politician is accused of consolidating his power after replacing 66-year-old Rolf Mützenich as the head of the SPD parliamentary group. Mützenich is also a signatory of the manifesto.

“Personal and political tensions are also playing a role,” said Gesine Schwan, a political scientist and SPD member who was asked to sign the motion but declined.

Klingbeil, who grew up after the fall of the Berlin Wall, has tried to shift the party’s foreign policy stance. In a series of speeches and editorials in 2022, he admitted that the party had “failed to realize that things in Russia had already been moving in a very different direction.”

The manifesto’s signatories argue that the pursuit of peace must be the priority. Ralf Stegner, who helped draft the text, caused controversy last month when it was revealed he had traveled to Azerbaijan in April to meet with Russian officials, including one under EU sanctions.

Stegner, 65, who at the time served on the parliamentary committee overseeing Germany’s intelligence service, defended the meeting, stating that MPs from Merz’s CDU had also attended to keep communication channels with Moscow open.

“You have to keep talking to everyone,” Stegner told the Financial Times. “The insinuation that this means agreeing with what others say or being a secret agent for a third party is, of course, complete nonsense.”

Stegner’s stance reflects the continued nostalgia within the SPD for Willy Brandt’s Ostpolitik. According to a party insider, members who joined the SPD under Brandt’s leadership, now in their 60s, make up 58% of the membership.

Peter Brandt, who said he never fully shared his father’s views, explained that he signed the manifesto because he believes the Russian threat is exaggerated.

“I do not agree with the idea that Russia will attack NATO,” said the younger Brandt. “The Russian army has shown weakness in the Ukraine war.”

He added that NATO is “currently superior to the Russian army in conventional terms, even without the Americans,” and called NATO’s goal of dedicating 5% of GDP to defense “unreasonable.”

Klingbeil, however, pointed out that Willy Brandt, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1971, also oversaw large defense budgets exceeding 3.5% of GDP.

“And ultimately, I don’t think anyone would associate Willy Brandt with someone who focused solely on military matters,” the SPD leader remarked.

Jun said Klingbeil symbolizes the “new school of thought within the party,” adding that the SPD’s younger MPs are “quite pragmatic” on Russia.

But Schwan believes Klingbeil will have to contend with the “old guard” for a while longer. “De-escalation, security, and peace policy are still part of the SPD’s DNA,” she said.

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New MI6 chief’s grandfather was a Nazi collaborator known as ‘The Butcher’

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The grandfather of the new head of MI6 was reportedly a Nazi spy known as “The Butcher” in German-occupied Chernihiv.

Blaise Metreweli was appointed earlier this month as the first female spy chief in the 116-year history of the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6).

According to documents cited by the Daily Mail, Metreweli’s grandfather, Constantine Dobrowolski, was a Nazi collaborator who boasted of killing Jews.

The newspaper reports that Dobrowolski, a Ukrainian, defected from the Red Army to become a chief informant for the Nazis and Adolf Hitler in the Chernihiv region.

Metreweli, 47, never knew her grandfather. He remained in Nazi-occupied Ukraine when his family fled in 1943 as the Red Army liberated the area.

Documents found in German archives reveal that Dobrowolski was known to the Nazis as “Agent No. 30.”

At one point, the Soviet Union placed a 50,000-ruble bounty on Dobrowolski’s head (approximately £200,000 today), labeling him “the greatest enemy of the Ukrainian people.”

According to the newspaper, Dobrowolski sought revenge against Russia for killing his family and confiscating their property during the 1917 revolution.

One file reportedly contains a handwritten letter from Dobrowolski to his Nazi superiors, signed “Heil Hitler.”

In another file, he is said to have boasted that he “personally participated in the destruction of the Jews” and had killed hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers.

A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office commented on the allegations, stating, “Blaise Metreweli did not know and had never met her father’s father. Blaise’s ancestors are characterized by conflict and division, and like many with Eastern European roots, she has a history that is only partially understood.”

The spokesperson suggested that it is “precisely this complex heritage” that “contributes to Blaise’s determination to prevent conflict and protect the British people from the modern threats of hostile states” as the next head of MI6.

Metreweli grew up abroad before studying anthropology at Cambridge, where she was part of the winning team in the 1997 Boat Race.

Joining MI6 in 1999, Metreweli served for two decades in Europe and the Middle East.

Metreweli currently holds the position of “Q,” the head of the technical section of MI6, made famous by the James Bond films.

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