Kupke: There won't be any nitpicking with the BSW in Saxony

The BSW in Saxony is entering budget negotiations with the minority coalition of the CDU and SPD with confidence and is pushing for tangible changes. “We won’t settle for petty compromises. Either there are fundamental changes or there aren’t,” BSW party and parliamentary group leader Ronny Kupke told the German Press Agency. If the ultimate goal is simply to maintain the status quo, then that cannot be done with Sahra Wagenknecht’s alliance. The BSW must remain true to its principles.

In the 2024 state election in Saxony, the BSW entered the state parliament with 11.8 percent of the vote right off the bat and, with 15 seats, was considered a potential coalition partner for the CDU and SPD. However, the alliance withdrew as early as the exploratory phase because the parties could not agree on a compromise for a future coalition agreement. The differences also proved too great in terms of fiscal and immigration policy. Kupke acknowledged that, to this day, the electorate remains divided on the decision to forgo participation in the government.

Decision to Forgo Participation in Government Was the Right One, Even in Retrospect

The 49-year-old defended the decision to withdraw from the exploratory talks in retrospect. For a young party, he said, it is always risky to be taken advantage of by established forces in such situations. “We had the feeling that the CDU and SPD just wanted to continue their policies. That’s why we said we’d rather not do it.” In hindsight, he said, this had been to the BSW’s advantage. They could not hold the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance jointly responsible for the current austerity budget.

Difficult Relationship with Coalition Factions

According to Kupke, his party’s relationship with the coalition factions remains difficult to this day. Apart from a jointly submitted motion and an amendment, all BSW motions were rejected by the coalition during the state parliament’s September plenary session. Although Minister President Michael Kretschmer (CDU) has publicly spoken positively about cooperation with the BSW, such behavior casts doubt on his credibility. Even in personal interactions, members of the minority coalition maintain virtually “no relationship” with the BSW.

BSW Wants to Look at the Big Picture in Budget Negotiations

According to Kupke, the alliance intends to take structural considerations into account during budget negotiations and focus on the “big picture.” He cited a temporary suspension of contributions to the Generations Fund and the abundance of subsidy programs administered through the Saxon Development Bank as sources for bridging funding gaps. Saxony intends to use the fund to cushion the future pension burdens of its civil servants. By the end of 2025, approximately 13 billion euros had accumulated in the fund. “We don’t want to plunder it, but merely suspend the contributions for two years,” said Kupke.

Kupke: There Are Major Differences Between the BSW and the AfD

Kupke does not see his party’s relationship with the AfD as contradictory. “The differences between us are significant. Nevertheless, we have said from the start that we want to pursue pragmatic politics. I see nothing wrong with dealing with AfD motions in a fact-based manner. We examine these motions and do not reject them out of hand.” There is no direct cooperation with the AfD. “I don’t know today whether we’ll ever get to that point.” He expects this issue to play a role at a federal party convention later this year. 

In December 2023, the State Office for the Protection of the Constitution in Saxony classified the Saxon AfD state chapter as a “confirmed right-wing extremist organization.” The AfD has so far unsuccessfully challenged this classification in court.

Membership has risen to around 800

Kupke reports positive growth for the Saxon BSW state chapter. Membership has since risen to around 800. Following the state election in Saxony-Anhalt, there were several new party members. Those interested in membership can apply online. However, not everyone is accepted as a matter of principle. The party has the right to object and can reject an application if the candidates appear unsuitable.