Thuringian BSW parliamentary group before dissolution: re-foundation as “Thüringen.Gerecht”

After most of its members left the party, the Thuringian BSW state parliamentary group wants to dissolve - and clear the way for a new one to be founded. For the new faction, a new party called Thüringen.Gerecht was founded by ex-BSW members in an expedited process, with Vice Prime Minister Katja Wolf at the head. The new parliamentary group, which is to be founded this Wednesday, will probably bear the name of the new party, explained representatives of the previous BSW parliamentary group. The party should support the new state parliamentary group.

The Noch-BSW parliamentary group currently has twelve members, of whom only two are still members of the eponymous party after leaving last week. The status of the current faction of the BSW is therefore considered legally uncertain.

Wolf, who was BSW state chairwoman until she left on Friday, wants to preserve the ability of the breakaway BSW members to govern. “A new faction requires a new party,” is their credo. It's about preventing ambiguities and uncertainties like those that followed the state elections in Saxony-Anhalt in Thuringia, she said: "We ensure reliability and stability."

According to the company's own statements, the founding of the party on Sunday came as a surprise even to members of the previous leadership team. The aim was to quickly create legal clarity, said one of the founders. “We want to be on the safe side.”

The resigned BSW members around Wolf had announced that they would continue to support the government of CDU Prime Minister Mario Voigt. Since the end of 2024, Thuringia has been governed by the only blackberry coalition made up of the CDU, BSW and SPD in Germany. This coalition fell into crisis with the collapse of the BSW and with it one of the three government partners. For Prime Minister Voigt, the founding of Thüringen.Gerecht can ensure “clarity and orderly conditions”.

From circles in the new party it was said that new legal assessments had ensured that it was founded in a hurry and that the Noch parliamentary group had made a decision. At the weekend, the AfD parliamentary group called for the faction status of the BSW to be repealed and for the group's funding to be stopped, with reference to the state constitution. In addition, a three-day state parliament meeting is planned in Thuringia from Wednesday this week, during which the question of the status of the BSW parliamentary group will also arise.

On Friday, nine other members of the state parliament who belong to the BSW parliamentary group turned their backs on the party. Another MP had already left the party a few days earlier but remained in the group. Three other MPs left both the BSW and the parliamentary group and want to form their own parliamentary group. Before the collapse, which was the result of a falling out with the federal executive board and party founder Sahra Wagenknecht, the Thuringian BSW parliamentary group had 15 members.