The leader of the AfD in the state of Thüringia, Björn Höcke, has asked the BSW (Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht) to support an “independent” candidate for the job of state governor. The AfD will launch a “constructive confidence vote” against current governor (Ministerpräsident) Mario Voigt (CDU), who has been hit by a plagiarism scandal. Höcke has offered Sahra Wagenknecht to replace Voigt, and to eventually jointly support an independent candidate. The BSW is part of a tripartite coalition government in Thuringia.
Influential blogger Norbert Häring suggests that the BSW dump Voigt. “Even if, like BSW-Thuringia, one approves of the ‘firewall’ [cordon sanitaire against the AfD—CCC] and wants to defend it, there is no justification for keeping a convicted fraudster in power. Members of parliament and ministers who want more than just positions and salaries must issue an ultimatum to the CDU to replace Voigt. Anything else will severely damage the BSW and the public’s trust in democracy in Germany.”
A super-parties governor who rules by seeking majorities on issues would represent a de facto break-up of the firewall and, if based on a half-reasonable agenda such as, for instance, suspending sanctions against Russia and resuming gas purchases (both the BSW and the AfD call for that), could accelerate a shift nationwide.
