Bridging the Gap between Traditional Left and Populist Right: Who Supports Bündnis Sarah Wagenknecht in Germany?

"Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht" (BSW) is the name of a new political party aiming to reshape Germany's political landscape in 2024 by proposing a unique blend of economic left-wing, cultural conservative, anti-migration, and pro-Russian positions. Recent polls estimate the party's potential to capture around 10 percent of the vote share, with higher popularity rates noted in Eastern Germany. Scholars anticipate that the party will attract voters from both the far-left party 'Die Linke' and the populist radical right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD). However, given that BSW was just founded in January 2024, limited knowledge exists about the party's supporters, their political beliefs, and motivations. Drawing from an original individual-level survey set to launch in spring 2024, our study aims to address this gap. We seek to identify the social and political groups aligning with BSW's remarkable mix of left and right, populist and moderate positions, and explore their stances regarding democracy, its institutions, and core principles. Specifically, we investigate how satisfaction with democracy, political trust, support for different types of democracy, as well as anti-democratic views and populist sentiments, influence sympathy and electoral backing for BSW. Our analysis also includes a comparison with the views of other parties' supporters, notably the AfD and Die Linke, and a deeper examination of differences between Eastern and Western Germany. By shedding light on these aspects, our study offers valuable insights into the potential impact of BSW on German political culture, particularly in the context of the upcoming German state elections in 2024.