Political Tensions Emerge in Brandenburg as BSW Refuses Coalition Loyalty Pledge

The stability of Brandenburg's unique red-violet coalition has come under scrutiny as the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) has declined a request from the Social Democratic Party (SPD) to provide a formal guarantee of allegiance to the coalition agreement. This development follows internal disputes within the BSW that resulted in several members leaving the party's parliamentary group.

The SPD, which governs alongside the BSW in Brandenburg--currently the only such coalition at the federal state level--has called for a clear assurance from all BSW members affirming their support for the government and the coalition contract. This demand comes after the departure of several BSW lawmakers, which destabilized the party's parliamentary group and cast uncertainty over the coalition's future.

Recently, two of the four exiting BSW representatives, Melanie Matzies and Reinhard Simon, returned to the party, while Jouleen Gruhn and André von Ossowski have remained outside the group. The BSW leadership and the majority of its parliamentary caucus have insisted that the remaining defectors relinquish their seats and have expressed unwillingness to collaborate with them further.

Despite these internal challenges, BSW representatives have stated that their parliamentary group has consistently supported the coalition over the past year and see no necessity for an additional loyalty declaration. The SPD, however, maintains that, given recent turbulence, a reaffirmation of commitment is required before progressing with the coalition committee discussions.

Complicating matters, BSW member Sven Hornauf has previously voted in favor of motions submitted by the Alternative for Germany (AfD) faction. Although the SPD previously accepted such dissent, the party now stresses the importance of unified support within the coalition to maintain its majority in the state legislature. Presently, the coalition holds a narrow majority by just two votes, highlighting its fragility.

BSW leadership argues that their parliamentary actions over the last year demonstrate reliability and professionalism, citing the approval of the state budget and the rejection of an AfD motion to call a vote of confidence in the SPD-led government as examples of their commitment. They further contend that the SPD's insistence on a loyalty pledge could be interpreted as seeking a pretext for dissolving the partnership.

According to the coalition agreement, the coalition committee meets at least quarterly or upon request by either party. The BSW maintains that issues of trust and reliability should be addressed in these established forums rather than through public demands for written commitments.

The situation has drawn criticism from other political figures. The leader of the Greens in Brandenburg, Clemens Rostock, described the ongoing conflict as a distraction from effective governance, questioning whether the coalition could continue to function amid such instability. The Greens, who previously governed with the SPD and CDU, are no longer represented in the state parliament following the 2024 election.

Meanwhile, voices from within the BSW and its former members have acknowledged the SPD's rationale for seeking renewed assurances, citing the coalition's current state of uncertainty. Speculation has also arisen regarding a potential shift towards a coalition between the SPD and the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), although such a government would currently lack a clear legislative majority.

As the coalition partners debate the path forward, the future composition and stability of Brandenburg's state government remain uncertain. The outcome will depend on the willingness of both parties to resolve internal disagreements and reaffirm their commitment to collaborative governance.