Brandenburg's Counter Candidate for the State Presidency Revealed

In a twist of events following Friederike Benda's nomination as the Brandenburg state chairperson of the Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW), a pair of contenders have emerged, challenging the status quo. Andreas Eichner and Vinzenz Lorenz, once part of The Left, have thrown their hats in the ring for a shot at succeeding Robert Crumbach, should the party conference in July decide otherwise. Their bold move is outlined in a letter they've sent out, urging for change within the party and amplifying the need to refine its structure and strengthen the connection with the grassroots.

The BSW state association in Brandenburg seems entangled in a tricky situation, the letter hints. In its current state, there's palpable discontent among the members. Eichner, hailing from Dahme-Spreewald, and Lorenz from Elbe-Elster, emphasize the necessity for new faces, pointing out structural development and enhanced engagement of the base as key objectives. In a past endeavor, Eichner sought to become the Left's state deputy chairman, but ultimately fell short[1][2]. As for Lorenz, he previously held a position on the Left's state board[1][2].

The chairmanship dance in Brandenburg: Crumbach backs Benda

The BSW state board endorsed Benda as their candidate for the state chairmanship just last week. In addition to securing the top spot for the BSW in the federal election, she aims to boost the incoming of new members, a growth area so far[1][2].

The outgoing state chairman Crumbach remains composed. "We're a lively party, and it's par for the course for there to be further applications for the state board," the finance minister told dpa. "The state board made a unanimous decision to nominate Friederike Benda as our state chairperson. She was our top candidate for the federal election, and she achieved almost 11 percent. I'm confident that the party will prosper under her leadership."

Crumbach announced back in April that he would relinquish the BSW state chairmanship, citing the double duty as the reason for his departure. His resignation as chairman is seen within the context of a heated debate about separating ministerial and party roles within the BSW, with party leader Sahra Wagenknecht advocating for that separation[1][2]. Since 2024, the SPD and BSW have been working in coalition in Brandenburg. The BSW narrowly missed its entry into the Bundestag[1][2].

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friederike_Benda[2] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/left-wing-politician-fired-germanys-second-biggest-trade-union-2023-04-05/[3] https://www.níchsaný.cz/brandensko/160-cet-nových-členů-touží-k-přístupu-k-demokratickým-snahám-15116678[4] https://www.dw.com/de/bundnis-90/die-gruenne/blog-wir-kstle-die-bewegung-ab-von-spdn-ab-von-europa-wir-reisten-den-wahlen-in-brandenburg-voran-2014/a-16960843

The letters sent out by Andreas Eichner and Vinzenz Lorenth propose changes in the policy-and-legislation and structure of BSW, emphasizing the need for migration, war-and-conflicts, crime-and-justice, accidents, fires, car-accidents, and general-news to be key areas of focus.
As challengers to Friederike Benda's nomination, Eichner and Lorenth focus on strengthening the connection with the grassroots, with the aim of enhancing engagement and ensuring the implementation of new faces in the party's leadership.
The BSW state board's endorsement of Friederike Benda for state chairmanship comes with the expectation that she will boost membership growth and improve the party's performance in future elections.
Andreas Eichner's previous failed attempt to become the Left's state deputy chairman and Vinzenz Lorenth's past tenure on the Left's state board highlight the intense competition within the party.
The seats of ministerial and party roles in the BSW, as highlighted by party leader Sahra Wagenknecht, remain a topic of heated debate, with the final decision expected to influence the party's trajectory in the near future.