A German couple who donated more than €5 million ($5.6 million) to the insurgent populist Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) have denied speculation that the funds could have links to Russia.
The anti-immigrant BSW has upended German politics this year, becoming the kingmaker in coalition negotiations in two eastern states after topping 10% in elections this month.
The party, founded in January by long-time icon of the German far left Sahra Wagenknecht, has achieved success with a mix of anti-immigrant stances, left-wing economic policies and its opposition to support for Ukraine against Russia, leading to allegations that it is a mouthpiece for Moscow.
BSW donor Lotte Salingré on Wednesday said the speculation was “nonsense.”
Salingré and her husband Thomas Stanger – a major shareholder in a company specializing in stage lighting for large concerts – “earned the money,” she told the t-online news website.
Stanger reportedly left the business in 2000, but has continued to earn millions from his stake in the company.
“We built this company in a garage,” said Stanger. “And we apparently had a good instinct.”
The couple donated €5.1 million to the BSW in two payments this year, believed to be the largest donations from private citizens to a German party in the last 20 years.
The payments raised eyebrows after they were publicized in accordance with German regulations covering the disclosure of donations of more than €50,000 to political parties.
