Wagenknecht Voices Displeasure Over Thuringian BSW's Government Stance
Accusations Levied Once More by Car-Custodian against Thuringian State Association
Berlin/Erfurt - BSW Chairwoman Sahra Wagenknecht (55) has again slammed the Thuringian state branch for alienating voters, this time to the far-right AfD, due to their government involvement.
In a candid conversation with "Stern" online, Wagenkracht criticized the coalition of CDU, BSW, and SPD in Erfurt. "The way it's been going in the past few months has also cost us credibility as a party," she said.
"We need to push harder for more policies that matter to our voters, and to AfD voters who aren't neo-Nazis, but have valid concerns," explained Wagenknecht.
Beware ofafD's Extreme Figure, Höcke
The current red-berry coalition in the state parliament holds only 44 votes, relying on the support of the Left for decisions. Wagenknecht accused the state government of tying itself to the Left instead of governing through shifting majorities.
Thuringia, a place that Wagenknecht considers her home, was where the party had the most voter potential, said Wagenknecht. "It's particularly disheartening that we've disappointed so many here."
Steer Clear of Höcke's Absolute Majority
Thuringia AfD chairman and faction head, Björn Höcke (53), a perceived right-wing extremist, could secure an absolute majority of seats in the next election if the trend continues. Wagenknecht attempted to block Finance Minister Katja Wolf (49) from re-election as Thuringian BSW chairwoman in April.
Regional Differences, National Impact
Despite the criticism, BSW's voter support at the national level has not been significantly affected by the Thuringian branch's government participation. In the February 2025 elections, the party narrowly missed the 5% threshold to enter the Bundestag, receiving 4.981% of the vote[3].
However, regional elections, particularly in Thuringia, show promise for BSW, with polls indicating approximately 19% support for the party. The rise in popularity is attributed to the party's populist appeal and anti-establishment stance[4][5].
Enrichment Insights:- The Thuringian state branch's differing views on government participation strained relations with Wagenknecht, who sought to avoid compromising on key issues like her stance on Ukraine.- BSW's participation in government negotiations in Thuringia had minimal impact on their national voter numbers. The party barely missed the 5% threshold to enter the Bundestag in the February 2025 elections (4.981%).- In contrast, regional elections, particularly in Thuringia, indicate that BSW could gain significant support due to their populist appeal and anti-establishment stance, rather than specific government participation decisions.
- Sahra Wagenknecht, the chairwoman of BSW, has expressed concern over the Thuringian branch's alignment with the far-right AfD, due to their government involvement, and asserts that the party should focus on policies that matter to voters, including those who are not neo-Nazis but have valid concerns.
- In the national context, BSW's participation in government negotiations in Thuringia has had a minimal impact on their voter numbers, with the party barely missing the 5% threshold to enter the Bundestag in the February 2025 elections.
- On the contrary, regional elections, particularly in Thuringia, show promise for BSW, with polls indicating approximately 19% support for the party, which is attributed to their populist appeal and anti-establishment stance.
