The possibility of a significant power shift within the burgeoning Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) is looming as Brandenburg’s Deputy Minister-President and Finance Minister, Robert Crumbach, signals his potential candidacy for a leadership position. In an interview with “Welt” Crumbach indicated he is considering running for either party chairperson or deputy chairperson at the upcoming federal party conference in Magdeburg this weekend. This development follows Sahra Wagenknecht’s announcement that she will not seek re-election as chairperson, creating a perceived leadership vacuum.
The current proposal for a dual leadership team consisting of Amira Mohamed Ali and Fabio De Masi, while endorsed by some factions, appears to be facing internal dissent. Crumbach’s intention to challenge this status quo underscores a deeper ideological struggle within the relatively young party. He voiced concerns that the BSW, despite its stated ambition to represent a new political direction, is inadvertently replicating patterns from its predecessor, the Left Party (Die Linke), asserting, “We set out not to be a Die Linke 2.0, but we are reproducing one in terms of personnel”. He criticized a perceived tendency among some former Left Party members to prioritize personal positioning over the broader goals of the alliance.
Crumbach’s critique extends beyond personnel, highlighting a narrowing of the party’s focus. While acknowledging the vital importance of the alliance’s peace policy, he argues that it needs to be broadened to encompass issues such as tax policy, financial regulation and labor market reform, echoing policies outlined in the initial founding principles. He emphasized a need to reintroduce discussions surrounding “fair labor market and social policies, economic pragmatism and a differentiated migration policy.
Furthermore, Crumbach stressed the critical importance of regional representation within the party leadership. The BSW’s significant electoral success has been concentrated in eastern Germany and he insisted this reality must be reflected in the composition of the party’s leadership. “The strength of our party lies in eastern Germany. This must be reflected in the party leadership” he stated, arguing that solely relying on leadership from western Germany would be detrimental to the party’s prospects in upcoming state elections, particularly in Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
The potential candidacy comes amidst a period of internal conflict, most recently exemplified by a dispute over media state treaties in Brandenburg. The BSW’s refusal to support the treaties forced a surprising reliance on opposition CDU votes, revealing what Crumbach described as a fundamental disagreement: “Is the goal to shape policy or merely to criticize?” This internal tension highlights a wider debate concerning the BSW’s role within established political structures.
While acknowledging that some within the alliance may be contemplating a reassessment of the BSW’s year of coalition governance, Crumbach delivered a staunch defense of the party’s involvement, citing successful efforts to secure industrial jobs, promote social housing, increase police staffing, extend the rental price control and recruit more teaching assistants. However, his ambition to shape policy suggests a potential divergence from more critical elements within the BSW, signaling a power struggle that could fundamentally alter the trajectory of the burgeoning political force.