BSW founder Sahra Wagenknecht believes that the regional party in Thuringia is looking to exit the current Brombeer coalition, a move she suggests will become clear during a special party session. Speaking to the news outlet “Welt” on Monday, Wagenknecht stated that the grassroots base is further ahead of the BSW parliamentary faction in Thuringia Landtag, which had reached a different conclusion earlier that day.
“Based on feedback I have received, I think there is a majority in the Thuringian base that does not want the status quo because maintaining it discredits the BSW,” she said. She also noted that since joining the coalition, the BSW has seen a significant decline in approval ratings in Thuringia, adding that the AfD has benefited from this decline. She questioned why this current path should be continued.
Wagenknecht expressed deep regret that Thuringia insists on keeping CDU Minister-President Mario Voigt, whom she claimed has “truly lost all credibility.” Furthermore, she argued that “these endless firewall coalitions have pushed our democracy into a cul-de-sac.” She proposed a different model: a cross-party prime minister who is capable and willing to govern with shifting majorities, instead of excluding a large portion of the electorate. While she did not name specific names, Wagenknecht asserted that candidates for such a model exist, stating she had conducted talks in Thuringia and that “honorable personalities” with recognition and prestige would surely be willing to take on the role.
Wagenknecht cited poor personal choices in Erfurt as the reason for her disagreement with the Thuringian faction. She also indirectly stoked suspicion that the BSW ministers might be motivated by retirement benefits. She recalled that when the party and the faction selected candidates for the coalition, the BSW was only weeks old, and it subsequently became clear that at least some of the candidates held different political views than the party, calling the situation “bad.” She added that there was also speculation that everyone was simply trying to reach the point when retirement benefits would start flowing, which would be in December, a situation she found unacceptable in dealing with voters.
