Thuringian BSW announces special party convention after internal dispute with Wagenknecht

Trigger: Wolf's clear rejection of the AfD

Wolf said verbatim in the interview: "Die programmatischen Gegensätze zur AfD sind so immanent, die sind so groß, dass wir davon überzeugt sind, dass es keine wie auch immer geartete Zusammenarbeit mit der AfD geben kann - auch nicht über das Modell einer Minderheitenregierung, einer Expertenregierung, die ja am Ende die AfD zu einem Königsmacher machen würde." This position stands in contradiction to signals from the federal party, which had shown itself more flexible towards majority-building in recent debates.

According to information from state branches, there was reportedly sharp criticism from the federal party around Wagenknecht of Wolf's appearance. Wagenknecht herself had so far not publicly commented on the events in Erfurt. Within the BSW, the conflict is understood as a directional decision: between a strict rejection of any rapprochement with the AfD on the one hand, and the willingness to enable political majorities beyond previous alliances on the other.

Wolf herself explained in conversation with party colleagues that she saw no personal reason to leave the BSW. "Und damit sehe ich persönlich überhaupt keinen Grund, das BSW zu verlassen," she reportedly said. Rather, she wanted to let the conflict be settled at the special party convention. According to information from her surroundings, she received backing from her faction in the Thuringian state parliament.

Power struggle between state branch and federal party

Observers view the special party convention as a test of the internal party power distribution within the BSW. The Thuringian state branch is one of the most member-rich of the party, which was only founded in 2024, and has its own faction in the state parliament. If the conflict were to escalate, discussions about a split could resurface, it was said from party circles.

Politically, the state branch is also under pressure because possible coalition models after the state election are up for debate in Thuringia. Alongside the BSW, the CDU, SPD, and the AfD play a role in this. The BSW's stance on the question of toleration or cooperation is considered decisive for government formation in the Free State.

Open questions about further procedure

Regardless of the internal party dispute, Thuringian politics is also occupied with the so-called plagiarism affair surrounding CDU politician Mario Voigt. According to earlier statements by his lawyer, Voigt had not evaluated sources in their original form in his doctoral thesis, but rather blindly adopted them from secondary literature. This matter is not the subject of the announced BSW special party convention, but is being followed in Erfurt as a political backdrop.

It remains unclear which specific motions are to be put to a vote at the special party convention. From the state executive, it was said there would be both a lead motion on the political line and proposals for the organizational strengthening of the state branch. A date has not yet been officially announced, but according to party circles is to take place in late summer.

The federal association of the BSW initially did not comment on the plans of the Thuringian state branch. Wagenknecht, who founded the BSW in the summer of 2024 out of a split from the Left Party, is keeping a low profile on the conflict according to information from the party headquarters. However, observers expect her to take a position before the convention.