Formation of government: Brandenburg: SPD and BSW propose coalition talks

The SPD and BSW have taken an important step forward in Brandenburg on the way to coalition negotiations. Less than four weeks after the start of their exploratory talks, both parties want to set the course today. According to information from the German Press Agency, the exploratory groups of both parties want to announce that they are recommending negotiations to the party executives. The heads of the regional associations of the SPD and BSW are discussing this. The “BZ” and “Bild” previously reported on it.

At the beginning of October, the SPD under Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke and the Alliance Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) under state leader Robert Crumbach started exploring a possible government coalition. Woidke and Crumbach have generally assessed the discussions positively so far. But Crumbach also pointed out that it is sometimes difficult. There were no external signs of a lack of willingness to compromise. Crumbach is known to some in the SPD: he was a social democrat for 40 years.

Only the SPD and BSW have a realistic majority

After the state elections on September 22nd, both parties are under a certain pressure to act: only the SPD and BSW together have a realistic majority in parliament, because no other party wants to form a coalition with the second strongest force, the AfD. And the only alternatives would be an SPD minority government or a new election. So far, Prime Minister Woidke has governed in a coalition made up of the SPD, CDU and the Greens.

Wagenknecht made demands

BSW boss Sahra Wagenknecht calls for a clear position on the deployment of US medium-range missiles and for a ceasefire between Russia and the invaded Ukraine. Wagenknecht is not directly at the negotiating table, but the BSW in Brandenburg says it is coordinating closely with her.

Woidke, together with Saxony’s CDU government leader Michael Kretschmer and Thuringia’s CDU leader Voigt, spoke out in the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung” at the beginning of October in favor of more diplomatic engagement by Germany to end the Russian war against Ukraine. Wagenknecht described the article as an important contribution because it showed a different perspective instead of arms deliveries. Woidke later also made it clear that he still believes arms deliveries to Ukraine are necessary.

Consultations on Blackberry Coalition

In Saxony and Thuringia it is also about possible government participation, but about a blackberry coalition made up of the CDU, BSW and SPD. In Saxony, the exploratory talks were interrupted because members of the BSW parliamentary group also agreed to a request from the AfD for a Corona investigative committee in the state parliament. According to the SPD, a meeting with top politicians from the CDU and the BSW is planned today. This should clarify whether and how the talks in Saxony could be continued.

In Thuringia, the project is in jeopardy: the search for a compromise on peace policy demands, which Wagenknecht made a prerequisite for the start of coalition negotiations, has so far been unsuccessful. Over the weekend, the leaders of the CDU, BSW and SPD gave themselves time to think about it. It should end on Monday or Tuesday with the resumption of talks, negotiating circles said on Sunday. “The chances are 50:50,” said one of the negotiators to the German Press Agency. And: “The door isn’t closed.” A new compromise proposal would be attempted.

Wagenknecht warns against too much willingness to compromise

BSW boss Wagenknecht warned her party against making too many concessions on the way to possible government participation. Compromises must be possible, she told the magazine “Stern”. “But willingness to compromise must not be an excuse to throw overboard almost everything you were elected for in order to participate in government.” Many people had high hopes for the BSW as a new party. “Everyone who is involved in the BSW has a damned responsibility not to disappoint these expectations.” The voters’ mandate to the BSW is not to enable things to continue as they are.