Overview

• Katja Wolf was re-elected as Thuringia state chair at the BSW conference in Gera, defeating an attempt by party founder Sahra Wagenknecht to unseat her.
• Wagenknecht's authoritarian leadership style has alienated some supporters, contributing to her failure to consolidate control in Thuringia.
• The BSW remains divided over membership rules, with Wagenknecht favoring centralized decisions by the federal board and Wolf advocating for state-level autonomy.
• The party’s narrow miss of Bundestag entry in 2024 and internal conflicts have cast doubt on its long-term viability as both a protest and governance-oriented entity.
• Despite its struggles, the BSW retains seats in the European Parliament and three state legislatures, including a stronghold in Thuringia where it earned 15.8% in the 2024 state election.