Thuringia BSW Leader Süßmuth Defends Coalition with CDU Against Wagenknecht

Gernot Süßmuth, the first concertmaster of the Staatskapelle Weimar and since 2025 the leader of the BSW (Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht) in Thuringia, publicly defends the state government coalition with the CDU and SPD. In an interview with the Freitag, he opposes the strategy of his party leader Sahra Wagenknecht, who wants the Thuringian BSW to leave the coalition. Süßmuth, who was elected as the BSW's top candidate in Thuringia alongside Katja Wolf in Gera, had pledged to build bridges between Berlin and Thuringia. However, this has not yet materialized. The BSW federal leadership, led by Wagenknecht, is pushing for the state association to exit the coalition with CDU and SPD in Erfurt, potentially affecting the position of Minister President Mario Voigt (CDU). Süßmuth's dual role as a musician and politician highlights the tension between regional governance and federal party strategy. The interview was conducted as Süßmuth was preparing to travel to Italy for a music festival, underscoring his ongoing commitment to his musical career.