Last week, Wagenknecht said in her speech in the German parliament that Economy Minister Robert Habeck had started an "economic war" against Germany's most important energy supplier, Russia. Wagenknecht called for the lifting of sanctions and Habeck's resignation. The statement of Wagenknecht spurred inner-party discussions and calls for Wagenknecht's exclusion from the party.
Spiegel spoke to numerous members of the party and got access to the party's internal communication, as well as reports of its closed meetings and recreated a picture of "a political collapse" of the party.
According to the magazine, after the start of Russia's military operation in Ukraine the party became split into two power groups as regards views on foreign policy: "radical anti-militarists, praising dictatorships in Cuba and Venezuela" and "pragmatic supporters of a functional Bundeswehr."
Wagenknecht is famous for her pro-Russian statements, which she has been sharply criticized for. She has repeatedly spoken in favor of negotiations with Russia and said that Germany and the EU with their sanctions were the ones that were to blame for high energy prices and inflation in general. The party leadership has distanced itself from Wagenknecht's statements.