Thuringia coalition crisis: SPD stays in government despite BSW dissolution

Thuringia’s Social Democrats are staying in the state government despite the planned dissolution of the BSW parliamentary group, SPD state leader and Interior Minister Georg Maier told dpa. “The SPD remains in the coalition,” Maier said. “The SPD stands in this government for reliability, a clear position and the will to shape policy in concrete ways.”

The party leadership and district chairs discussed the government crisis after most members of the BSW parliamentary group left Sahra Wagenknecht’s party. The CDU, SPD and BSW have governed Thuringia together since the end of 2024.

The SPD again called for a binding format for talks with the Left parliamentary group. The coalition has lost seats as the BSW group has begun to break apart, leaving the government even more dependent on support from the opposition Left. The CDU, SPD and BSW previously held 44 of the state parliament’s 88 seats. In the worst-case scenario, that number could fall to 39.

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The SPD remains in the coalition.

The Social Democrats said the CDU needed to resolve the contradiction between its practical policy of ruling out cooperation with the Left and the need for parliamentary agreement. Lawmakers who left the BSW, led by Deputy Minister President Katja Wolf, have moved quickly to establish a new party. They plan to form a new parliamentary group on Wednesday.

Wolf said the move would restore the government’s ability to function. The CDU, led by Minister President Mario Voigt, has also reaffirmed its commitment to the coalition under the changed circumstances.

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The SPD stands in this government for reliability, a clear position and the will to shape policy in concrete ways.