In the political landscape of Thuringia, the appointment of a new prime minister is up for grabs. If CDU's leading candidate, Mario Voigt, falls short of securing votes from the BSW in the minister-president election, it's unlikely they'll back him, especially if their party finishes below the Wagenknecht party on election day. Katja Wolf, BSW's top candidate in Thuringia, notes that "democratic norms dictate: The dominant force in the coalition gets to make the personnel proposal."
However, if CDU manages to surpass BSW and makes significant progress in negotiations, discussions, and coalition formation, Wolf might consider Voigt for the role of minister-president. This Sunday, state parliaments in Thuringia and Saxony are holding elections, and surveys indicate a close battle for the second spot between CDU and the Wagenknecht party. The AfD, currently leading the pack, is unlikely to enter into a coalition with any party due to their right-wing extremist classification by the state's Office for the Protection of the Constitution.
As of now, BSW has marginally lagged behind CDU, with scores between 17 and 20 percent compared to CDU's 21 to 23 percent. Wolf firmly refuses to commit to a coalition with the AfD but has not entirely ruled out the possibility of partnering with the Left party, led by Thuringia's current Minister-President, Bodo Ramelow. She states, "the chances depend on the election results. I don't think it's impossible if we can jointly ensure a stable majority in Thuringia."
In light of these current standings and democratic norms, it's highly unlikely for the BSW to support CDU's Mario Voigt as prime minister in Thuringia after the state elections. BSW's strategy, driven by its ideological stance and Sahra Wagenknecht's charisma, has not weakened the AfD electorally but rather strengthened right-wing discourse, making it less likely for them to support a CDU candidate with a more conservative approach.
