The Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance's Thuringia parliamentary faction voted 13 to 2 to remain in the state's governing coalition, defying the federal executive board's demand to withdraw support from Minister-President Mario Voigt. Dissident lawmakers Anke Wirsing and Sven Küntzel opted to stay within the faction despite their criticism of Voigt, whose doctoral title revocation appeal recently failed. A special party conference is set for roughly three weeks from now to address the internal dispute.
Party founder Sahra Wagenknecht said the Thuringia branch would make its own decision and expects the conflict to be resolved at the conference. She has separately advocated a model of non-partisan state premiers governing with shifting majorities that could include the Alternative for Germany — a stance the BSW chapter in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern endorsed.
In neighbouring Saxony-Anhalt, ahead of the September 6 election, the BSW plans to abstain in a potential third ballot for premier. Incumbent Sven Schulze accused the BSW of seeking to help the AfD to power.