Four lawmakers from the Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) have left the party in the Brandenburg state parliament but will remain independent in the faction. The departures threaten the slim majority of the SPD-BSW coalition. The lawmakers criticize authoritarian tendencies and radicalized positions within the party.
In the Brandenburg state parliament, lawmakers Jouleen Gruhn, Melanie Matzies, André von Ossowski, and Reinhard Simon have left the Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW). They intend to remain independent within the faction, as reported by dpa. In their statement, they said: »Authoritarian tendencies are increasingly shaping the internal party climate, pressure on lawmakers is growing, while open discussions and the inclusion of diverse voices are fading into the background.« They view radicalized positions as incompatible with a pluralistic movement or democratic party.
The SPD-BSW coalition holds 46 seats against 42 for the opposition (AfD with 30, CDU with 12). SPD faction leader Björn Lüttmann expressed surprise but highlighted the departing lawmakers' commitment to the coalition. The SPD faction plans talks with BSW leaders on Wednesday.
BSW faction leader Niels-Olaf Lüders sees no rift: »We have discussions that can be quite heated, but we are not split because of that,« he told the »Märkische Allgemeine«. The exits follow a dispute over two media state treaties reforming ARD, ZDF, and Deutschlandradio, plus youth media protection. The BSW faction was divided: In an internal vote, nine voted against, three abstained, and one was in favor. BSW Minister Crumbach had approved the treaties in the cabinet, but the federal board rejected them. Four lawmakers filed a no-confidence motion against Lüders.
In the main committee, Crumbach is expected to vote yes, Lüders no. The BSW faction plans a majority no vote in the parliament on November 19/20. The day before, Sahra Wagenknecht announced she would step down as BSW chair but retain a leading role.
Minister President Dietmar Woidke (SPD) has not commented yet.