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Wagenknecht’s Shadow Looms Over Thuringia BSW Leadership Vote, Threatening German Coalition
GERA, Germany – The fledgling alliance between Sahra Wagenknecht, founder of the BSW party, and Katja Wolf, the BSW’s Thuringian party leader, is showing signs of deep tension, culminating in a perhaps pivotal state party conference in Gera this Saturday.The outcome could reshape the political landscape of Thuringia, one of Germany’s eastern states, and even threaten the stability of its unique “blackberry coalition” government. The situation is drawing parallels to internal party conflicts seen in the U.S., where ideological rifts can fracture coalitions and undermine governance.
The BSW – short for “Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht” (Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance) – has made waves in German politics with its blend of left-leaning economic policies and socially conservative stances on issues like immigration. The party’s success in Thuringia, where it captured 15.8 percent of the vote in last year’s state election, has been a key part of its rise.
A little over a year ago, on March 14, 2024, the BSW Thuringia held a supporter meeting in the Erfurt multifunctional arena.According to sources, around 500 guests came to see Wagenknecht, who presented her vision of the BSW and gave her endorsement to Katja Wolf.
The following day, the BSW Thuringia was officially founded in Eisenach.Of the 37 party members at that time, 36 voted for Katja Wolf as the state chair. The founding meeting also confirmed Steffen Schütz as co-state chairman, who has been friends with Wolf for years.
Since then, Wolf and Schütz have built what is currently the largest (122 members) and most successful BSW state association in Germany. It became the third strongest force in the Free State and a key player for the new Prime minister Mario Voigt.
The BSW,along with chancellor Angela merkel’s CDU and the SPD formed thuringia’s unusual “blackberry government”—named after the parties’ traditional colors (black for CDU,red for SPD). It includes three BSW ministers. Wolf serves as finance minister, and Schütz heads the Ministry of Digital and Infrastructure. Three months ago, Schütz announced he would step down as state chairman.
Now, that success story appears imperiled. Schütz explained his decision by saying the party needs “new stability”. He has been replaced by musician Gernot Süßmuth.
The instability within the Thuringian BSW is largely attributed to Sahra Wagenknecht. The day after the Bundestag election, Wagenknecht was looking for the failure of the BSW in Thuringia. In fact, approval for the BSW in Thuringia from around 191,000 votes in the state election in the state election in the federal election.
Despite Wagenknecht failing to recognize the completely different political climates at the state and federal level between the two elections, the narrative of the lost election in Thuringia has as prevailed.
Power Struggle intensifies
Tensions have been simmering for months. “Wagenknecht has always seen the government participation in Thuringia critically,” a party insider revealed. “Already during the exploratory talks in October, she always interfered and called for a sharper BSW profile.” She allegedly imposed conditions on government formation that Wolf and Schütz had to soften.
Wolf has always emphasized that the BSW had to take duty for Thuringia to prevent new elections. At the December party conference in Ilmenau, Wagenknecht campaigned for the coalition agreement, while Wolf tried to fill the trenches between her and the party founder with warm words. Around three quarters of the Thuringian BSW members voted for the government participation.
At Saturday’s party congress in Gera, Wagenknecht’s deputy, Anke Wirsing, will challenge Wolf for the leadership position. BSW General Secretary Christian Leye has openly supported Wirsing, stating that “new impulses are needed in the Thuringian BSW.”
Wagenknecht has also publicly endorsed Wirsing. Wirsing stated that she did not wont to act against the federal executive board during the government formation in Thuringia. She also explained that she wants to build bridges to Berlin if elected.
Government stability at Risk?
Political analysts say an Wolf’s removal could fundamentally question the blackberry coalition, as the BSW ministers acting then lack the backing of the party. “Wolf and Schütz also see this danger,”
