Overview

• Delegates at the Bleicherode state party congress adopted an appeal opposing new defense-production locations in eastern states, citing the coalition’s peace preamble.
• Leaders framed the course as making Thuringia functional rather than war-ready, with party chair Katja Wolf positioning BSW against a militarization drive backed by CDU premier Mario Voigt.
• The parliamentary group, BSW’s three ministers and the state association will draft a civilian “future industries” concept with unions and companies for East Germany.
• Thuringia’s BSW reports 241 members and roughly 500 applicants awaiting admission, with delays linked to centralized vetting that state leaders want eased through a bylaws change after some candidates dropped out.
• Wolf called for direct debate with AfD proposals without cooperation, while in Berlin the BSW is set to settle on a 2026 lead candidate soon, with a decision expected in October and formal nomination in January.