BSW Rebels” Dejan Lazic and Norbert Weber from Hamburg have had their membership rights in the BSW revoked with immediate effect, and a party expulsion procedure has been initiated against them. This is according to a letter from the party leadership, led by Sahra Wagenknecht, to the two, reported by the news portal T-Online.
The party leadership had already decided on January 2 to have the two leave the party, according to T-Online’s information. The letter from the party leadership to the two states that an emergency situation exists because of the “ever more drastic behavior, making it likely that they will significantly disrupt party life, party meetings, and the upcoming election campaigns.” The federal leadership, led by Wagenknecht, filed a motion for the party’s expulsion on January 6 with the state arbitration court.
Additionally, the party leadership decided to exclude Lazic and Weber “from the exercise of their rights as a member with immediate effect, until the court’s decision is made.” This includes all membership rights, such as the right to attend party meetings and submit proposals. This means they will not be able to participate in the BSW state party convention in Hamburg on Saturday or the federal party convention in Bonn on Sunday. However, they can apparently still participate in a list nomination meeting on Saturday in Hamburg, where the state list will be re-elected.
Weber and Lazic do not accept the expulsion and the revocation of their membership rights and will likely take legal action against it. “Apparently, the centralist and authoritarian party structure will be enforced at any price and without opposition” said Lazic to the news portal on Thursday. “The new election of the illegal state leadership in Hamburg will take place on Saturday, now behind closed doors and without opposing votes.” On the expulsion from the federal party convention, he said, “Criticizers will be muzzled. That doesn’t fit a peace party.”
Norbert Weber also makes a clear statement: “The party leadership considers democratic rules a nuisance.” At the federal party convention on Sunday, Sahra Wagenknecht will be celebrated as a chancellor candidate. “Membership rights are a disturbance” Weber said.
The federal party has confirmed the event, according to T-Online, and has announced a more detailed response for a later date.