BSW state party conference in Leipzig: Criticism of the party course and discussion about forming a government

Conscription, formation of a government and one's own role in state politics: the Saxon BSW met on Saturday for a party conference in Leipzig. The former party and parliamentary group leader, Sabine Zimmermann, spoke up there.

She demanded greater intervention from her party. «Where is our determination? Where is the political bite?" Zimmermann asked the delegates at the BSW state party conference in Leipzig. «We are too quiet. That worries me when I look into Saxony.” The founding chairwoman of the regional association criticized that the party was not founded in order to run as quietly as possible in parliament and to establish itself comfortably.

With a view to the negotiations on the Saxon double budget 2027/2028, Zimmermann demanded that the BSW should not agree to the draft of the minority government of the CDU and SPD without submitting its own substantive demands. About a year ago, Zimmermann scaled back her involvement for health reasons. After becoming the state party and parliamentary group chairman, she also gave up her state parliament mandate in January.

One of the substantive resolutions of the party conference was an exemption for conscientious objectors from the muster. “Anyone who refuses military service for reasons of conscience must not be forced to undergo a military suitability test against their will,” said state chairman Ronny Kupke. The party wants to ensure that an application for conscientious objection is exempt from the compulsory military service.

The formation of a government in the neighboring state of Saxony-Anhalt also played a role in Leipzig. The BSW is holding talks with the AfD there, but has repeatedly ruled out a coalition. According to previous statements, the BSW wants to abstain from the election of the Prime Minister.

In Leipzig, the federal party leadership once again called for cooperation based on substantive criteria. «We are fighting for majorities for our concepts and for our political content. And we don’t differentiate who we work with based on party color,” said federal chairwoman Amira Mohamed Ali. There must be an end to trench warfare and social division.

The deputy BSW parliamentary group leader in Saxony-Anhalt, Claudia Wittig, criticized the parties in the current explorations as not being able to compromise. The political camps in the Magdeburg state parliament are so divided that they are basically no longer able to work, she said during a panel discussion.

The AfD was clearly the strongest force in the state elections, but with 39 votes it does not have a majority in the state parliament. This would require 42 votes. The BSW has 5 seats.