German BSW Party Leaders Clash Over Alleged Thuringian Invitation

Federal chairman Fabio De Masi of the Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) accused parliamentary secretary Stefan Wogawa of fabricating an invitation to the party’s Thuringian Landtag faction during a public dialogue event in Suhl. De Masi demanded that Wogawa stop “lying”, while Wogawa rebutted, shouting “You pinched it, Fabio, that’s the truth”. The exchange highlighted ongoing tension between the Thuringian branch and the federal board, a strain that has persisted since BSW entered the governing coalition in Thuringia.

The dispute was raised ahead of upcoming state elections in Saxony‑Anhalt and Mecklenburg‑Vorpommern. Co‑chair Amira Mohamed Ali and De Masi used the platform to critique Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s policies, framing the elections as a referendum on his government. Party founder Sahra Wagenknecht has previously warned that participation in the CDU‑SPD‑SPD coalition could jeopardise BSW’s performance in the 2025 federal election.