Overview
- The four—Jouleen Gruhn, Melanie Matzies, André von Ossowski and Reinhard Simon—will stay in the Landtag group as independents, shrinking the SPD–BSW tally from 46 to 42 seats and ending its absolute majority of 45.
- The immediate flashpoint is two media‑state treaties on ARD, ZDF, Deutschlandradio reform and youth media protection, with a main committee vote expected today and a plenary decision scheduled for 19–20 November.
- The departing deputies cited rising “authoritarian tendencies” and “radicalised positions” in BSW and had filed a no‑confidence motion against faction chief Niels‑Olaf Lüders.
- SPD leaders plan talks and signal they aim to keep the coalition, while BSW figures including Sahra Wagenknecht criticize the exits yet call for dialogue and the state party chair says ending the coalition was never intended.
- BSW remains split internally—an earlier faction vote went 9 against, 3 abstentions, 1 in favor of the treaties—Finance Minister Robert Crumbach backs the agreements, calls the situation difficult, and Lüders plans a special caucus meeting.