Key facts
- Germany's AfD and the leftist BSW party passed a motion in the Saxony-Anhalt state parliament to end military aid to Ukraine.
- The motion has no practical effect as state parliaments do not control foreign policy.
- The AfD and BSW share a desire to restore ties with Moscow and stem immigration.
- The AfD secured its biggest victory in an election in Saxony-Anhalt last month.
- BSW founder Sahra Wagenknecht stated the "firewall" policy against the AfD has failed.
Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party and the small leftist BSW party have joined forces to pass a symbolic motion in the state parliament of Saxony-Anhalt, calling for an end to Berlin's military support for Ukraine. The motion, passed on Wednesday, has no practical impact on foreign policy as state parliaments do not have a role in such matters.
However, the move raises the prospect of cooperation between the two parties, with AfD state leader Ulrich Siegmund aiming for formal parliamentary confirmation as state premier by the end of the year. The AfD secured its largest victory in an election in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt last month. The BSW party, which broke away from the far-left Linke party, does not intend to form a formal coalition with the AfD but has expressed a desire to work with them. Both parties share common ground on restoring ties with Moscow and curbing immigration.