Germany: radical right and left join forces for a call to stop aid to Ukraine and normalize relations with Russia

The Parliament of Saxony-Anhalt, now dominated by the far right, supported by a radical left group, adopted on Wednesday a call to stop military aid to Ukraine and to normalize relations with Russia.

A pro-Russian and anti-migrant formation, the Alternative for Germany (AfD), after its overwhelming victory in the regional elections in September in this region of former East Germany, dominates the assembly but it needs the five elected representatives of the BSW to have an absolute majority.

The elected officials of the two groups cooperate, without being allies, and are in unison to denounce the economic sanctions taken by the West against Russia in retaliation for the invasion of Ukraine and to condemn military aid to kyiv. “Financial support for Ukraine beyond the scope of humanitarian aid must be immediately stopped,” is written in the text voted on Wednesday, which also urges the “immediate” lifting of sanctions against Russia.

“The unilateral bias of the West in the war in Ukraine did not contribute to ending the conflict, on the contrary it prolonged the suffering of the population and increased the risk of an expansion of the war to other countries,” we can still read in this document, which does not mention Russian responsibilities. This text calls on the regional government, which the AfD has yet to form, to take the matter to the upper house of the German Parliament, where the Länder (regional states) are represented.

He thus calls for an “immediate ceasefire and the opening of peace negotiations with Russia”. Moscow refuses to initiate talks or a ceasefire until its demands, particularly territorial, have been accepted. Germany is the main provider of aid to Ukraine and Chancellor Friedrich Merz promises to support this country at all costs. He also accuses Russia of engaging in a campaign of sabotage, disinformation and espionage on German soil.

Very unpopular due in particular to economic difficulties and repeated hiccups in his government, the chancellor is faced with a rise of the extreme right without precedent since 1945. However, the Germans remain mostly favorable to Ukraine. According to a poll at the beginning of September commissioned by public television ARD, 56% of those questioned judged the Russian threat against Germany "strong" or very strong". Aid to Ukraine is considered insufficient by 14% of respondents, appropriate by 38% of them and too important by 42%.