Thuringia's BSW leader Wolf sharply criticizes Wagenknecht's rapprochement with the AfD

In the dispute, which became public on Wednesday, Wolf drew an unmistakable red line: „Für das BSW kann es keine Verbrüderung mit der AfD geben.“ The party, which in parts is confirmed to be right-wing extremist, is „hochgefährlich“, it does not „keine Politik für die kleinen Leute“, but instead acts „rassistisch und frauenfeindlich“. With this statement, Wolf is intensifying the directional competition that has been simmering for weeks between the Berlin-based BSW and several eastern German state associations.

Background: State associations versus the Berlin BSW

The front lines between Erfurt and Berlin have been running increasingly openly for months. While the Berlin BSW executive around Wagenknecht is exploring leeway for being tolerated by or cooperating with the CDU after federal elections, the state associations in Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt are insisting on distance from the AfD. Thuringia's Minister-President Mario Voigt (CDU) leads a minority government whose majorities have so far been uncertain; tolerance by the BSW or the AfD is being discussed in state politics as a possible configuration. In recent weeks, Wolf has repeatedly stressed that her party in Thuringia will not move into an alliance via AfD support.

Observers interpret Wolf's words as a direct affront to her own chairwoman. Within the BSW, the spokesperson of the Thuringia state parliamentary group is considered one of the few politicians with independent power weight in the party. Her course simultaneously secures the BSW in Thuringia a clearly distinguishable profile vis-à-vis voters who might waver between a BSW and the AfD. Wolf's criticism aims not to lose this group, without her own party appearing as a bourgeois-conservative appendage of the CDU.

Reactions from within the party

Wagenknecht herself has so far not publicly commented on the specific accusations from Thuringia. In earlier statements, she had pointed out that decisions about coalitions or toleration are made primarily in the states. Behind the scenes, mediators from the Bundestag faction are trying to smooth the waters between Erfurt and Berlin. A federal party congress announced for early September is, according to party spokespeople, to adopt a „politische Linie“ by which state associations should orient themselves — a decision that could deepen rather than resolve the conflict.

Wolf is receiving support from her own state parliamentary group and from parts of the grassroots. Several district associations in Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia had demanded in internal emails a „klare Abgrenzung“ from the AfD. Local political officeholders also warned that joining forces with the party, which in parts is confirmed to be right-wing extremist, would destroy the BSW at its core. Wolf's appearance gives these voices prominent public visibility for the first time.

Outlook on the federal party congress

At the Federal Press Conference in Berlin, they did not wish to comment on the internal dispute. A spokesperson referred to the aforementioned party congress. It remains open for now how the grouping loyal to Wagenknecht in the Bundestag faction will react. It had recently stressed that it would „keiner Brandenburgischen Lösung das Wort reden“, but also would not „aus Prinzip jede Brücke abbrechen“. Wolf's clear statement intensifies the already heated tone in the party and makes a swift decision by the federal executive likely.

The political consequences in Thuringia are likely to be immediate. Should Wagenknecht confirm her course, Wolf would face the question of whether she would go along with a state government tolerated by the AfD or reopen the coalition question. Should Berlin back down, Wolf's profile as guarantor of demarcation would be strengthened. Both paths alter the power architecture in the Free State.