BSW, CDU and SPD hold talks on possible government participation in Saxony

Saxon BSW leader "cautiously optimistic" so far

"We want something good to come out of this in the end. I think we are well on the way to achieving this," said Zimmermann. She refuted views that the talks were being influenced by BSW namesake Sahra Wagenknecht. There is no dedicated line to Berlin, nor is Oskar Lafontaine sitting somewhere in the background. The negotiations were being conducted autonomously and Wagenknecht had no right of veto: "I don't see why," said Zimmermann.

Party founder Wagenknecht told Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND) in an interview that she wanted to closely coordinate the BSW's talks on possible government participation in Thuringia, Saxony and Brandenburg. It is important that the negotiations in the three states are coordinated, he said. "If we give up an important demand in one state, it will be difficult for us to push it through in the other states. In order to have a strong negotiating position, we need to act in a coordinated manner," she said.

Wagenknecht also threatened to break off the talks if the CDU and SPD were unwilling to compromise. "If the others don't really want to move, then our voters' mandate is opposition," she said, "because we were elected for change and we will not betray our voters." Commenting on the talks so far, Wagenknecht said: "In Saxony and Thuringia, you can already say that it is often more annoying with the SPD than with the CDU."