Björn Höcke, the regional leader of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) in Thuringia, has publicly called on Sahra Wagenknecht, founder of the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW), to assume the office of Minister-President of Thuringia.
With Voigt's legal challenges against the degree revocation currently stalled and the AfD preparing a renewed constructive vote of no confidence, Höcke's public overture attempts to reshape the political calculus in Erfurt. In the Thuringian state parliament, the AfD holds 32 seats as the largest faction, while the BSW commands 15 seats as part of the incumbent coalition government alongside the CDU and SPD. Combined, the AfD and BSW hold 47 of the 88 total legislative seats, establishing a theoretical working majority.
Höcke’s video specifically referenced recent statements by Wagenknecht concerning upcoming elections and state-level governance. “Let us open a new chapter in the party history of the Federal Republic of Germany,” Höcke stated in the recording, setting a timeline for political realignment ahead of the September 6, 2026, state parliament election in neighboring Saxony-Anhalt.
The Context of State Elections and the “Firewall” Debate
The push by the AfD leadership directly builds upon recent comments made by Wagenknecht during the ongoing election campaign in Saxony-Anhalt. As reported by regional and national publications, Wagenknecht recently advocated for an “überparteilichen” or non-partisan Minister-President in Saxony-Anhalt who could govern with the tacit parliamentary support of both the AfD and the BSW. Wagenknecht asserted that if the BSW clears the electoral threshold and enters the Magdeburg state parliament, the established democratic “firewall” policy—which bars democratic parties from cooperating with the AfD—would effectively be broken.
Polls cited by election analysts on wahlrecht.de indicate that the AfD maintains strong voter support in Saxony-Anhalt, regularly polling above 40 percent. Depending on the final vote distribution and whether smaller parties surpass the five percent electoral hurdle, the AfD could mathematically capture an absolute majority of legislative seats when voters go to the polls on September 6, 2026. However, AfD lead candidate Ulrich Siegmund has previously rejected the concept of a minority administration, signaling that the party aims to secure an outright government mandate.
By connecting the legislative dynamics in Saxony-Anhalt to the political structure in Thuringia, Höcke seeks to challenge the stability of Thuringia’s governing coalition. The regional BSW branch in Thuringia currently participates in a three-way coalition—sometimes styled as a “blackberry” alliance—alongside Mario Voigt’s CDU and the SPD.
Internal Divisions and Responses from the BSW
Reaction from within the BSW to Höcke’s public offer was swift and dismissive. Klaus Ernst, a BSW executive board member, rejected the proposal outright in an interview with the Augsburger Allgemeine, calling it “absolute nonsense and a cheap PR stunt by Höcke.” Ernst reiterated that the party has categorically ruled out any form of cooperation or coalition governance with the AfD since the BSW’s foundation, describing the AfD as a political force that is “in parts fascist and radical right-wing.”
Additional friction exists within the Thuringian BSW organization itself. Katja Wolf, the BSW state chairwoman in Thuringia, has repeatedly ruled out working alongside the AfD. At the same time, Wolf has experienced policy friction with Wagenknecht. During debates over coalition formation following the September 2024 Thuringian state election, Wagenknecht criticized the regional party’s decision to enter into government negotiations with the CDU and SPD, later calling the coalition entry a strategic mistake.
What Happens Next
Political attention now shifts to the legislative proceedings in Erfurt and the final weeks of campaigning ahead of the September 6, 2026, state election in Saxony-Anhalt. Sahra Wagenknecht has not formally responded to Höcke’s public video invitation, while legal and parliamentary challenges concerning Mario Voigt’s tenure continue to unfold in Thuringia.
Related reading