The revoked doctorate of Thuringian Prime Minister Mario Voigt (CDU) could become a question of power. The BSW federal leadership has asked Voigt to resign immediately. At the same time, the party executive committee warned its own regional association in Thuringia to withdraw support from Voigt, as can be seen from a decision by the party executive committee of the Sahra Wagenknecht alliance, which is available to the dpa news agency. According to the party, it was passed unanimously with one abstention.
Party founder Sahra Wagenknecht and the party leadership have been at odds with the BSW Thuringia regional association for a long time. He governs in the so-called blackberry coalition with the CDU and SPD, which displeases the federal leadership. Now the conflict seems to be reaching a new level.
The demand for Voigt's resignation is justified in the board's decision by the fact that Chemnitz University of Technology has revoked the CDU politician's doctorate. He is accused of having worked improperly. Voigt's objection to this was rejected. The Prime Minister has now filed a lawsuit against the revocation of his doctorate. The complaint was received on Friday, the Chemnitz Administrative Court confirmed to the dpa. There is no date for a hearing yet.
BSW group wants to discuss the decision
The resolution of the BSW federal leadership states: "There should be no double standards in politics." Mario Voigt "refuses to withdraw and thus seriously damages the office of Prime Minister and trust in politics," is criticized in the resolution.
Addressed to its own ranks in Thuringia, the resolution states: “The BSW must not make itself the majority procurer of a man who puts his personal interests above the well-being of the country. We therefore expect the BSW parliamentary group in the Thuringian state parliament to stop supporting Mario Voigt and to support the path for a non-partisan prime minister who governs with changing majorities in Thuringia as well.
The Thuringian BSW boss Katja Wolf emphasized the trusting cooperation with Mario Voigt. Meanwhile, the parliamentary managing director of the BSW parliamentary group in the Thuringian state parliament, Stefan Wogawa, announced that they would discuss the federal executive board's request on Monday. “For me personally as a member of parliament, this request is irrelevant,” said Wogawa. That is his personal stance; it has not yet been agreed upon in the group. As a member of parliament, he emphasized that he was not bound by these instructions from the party executive committee.
Höcke with an idea – Wagenknecht with a counteroffer
The demand comes at an explosive time. The Thuringian AfD state leader and right-wing extremist Björn Höcke had called on Wagenknecht two days earlier to be elected prime minister in the Erfurt state parliament. The BSW founder rejected this suggestion. “The office of Thuringian Prime Minister is not a challenge cup that Mr. Höcke can award at will,” explained Wagenknecht to the dpa news agency.
But Wagenknecht had a counteroffer ready. "Not least in order to discuss differences and similarities between the BSW and AfD, the BSW leadership offered Ms. Weidel a public duel with me, which, to our regret, she declined," Wagenknecht told SPIEGEL. “I ask Mr. Höcke to fight this duel with me instead of Alice Weidel,” she suggested.
