The SPD and BSW are set to unveil their plans for ministerial roles in Brandenburg’s new state government, with leaks suggesting that Robert Crumbach, the BSW’s leader in the state, is determined to secure control of the Interior and Finance Ministries—two of the most influential departments.
This push came with compromises, however. Despite earlier promises by BSW founder Sahra Wagenknecht, the coalition will not pursue reversing sanctions on Russian oil and gas. Additionally, they won’t oppose the establishment of defense companies in Brandenburg, signaling a softer stance than initially anticipated.
The new coalition follows the dramatic collapse of the SPD-Greens-CDU government. Economic Minister Jörg Steinbach (SPD) announced he wouldn’t serve in the next term, citing irreconcilable differences with the BSW. This was followed by an unprecedented move from SPD Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke, who dismissed Health Minister Ursula Nonnenmacher (Greens) during a Federal Council meeting.
The dismissal stemmed from a dispute over referring Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach’s hospital reform to the Conciliation Committee. While Nonnenmacher supported the reforms, Woidke opposed them—a move seen as a concession to the BSW, which strongly opposes the policy. In response, Greens Environment Minister Axel Vogel resigned in solidarity, leaving the coalition in shambles before a new government could even be formed.
Now, a “red-dark-red” coalition between the SPD and BSW has emerged, though not without contention. The SPD successfully held its ground on continuing constitutional reviews for officials, a process the BSW wanted to abolish but agreed to reconsider “promptly.”
While the BSW couldn’t secure free school lunches—a costly measure they had included in a coalition agreement in Thuringia—they did push through tax exemptions for pensions under €2,000 and stricter migration policies. These include advocating for border controls, faster asylum procedures, and rigorous enforcement of the Dublin Agreement to curb irregular migration.
As the SPD-BSW coalition takes the reins, its success will likely hinge on navigating the fractures left by the previous government and delivering on its key promises without alienating voters or coalition partners. The political landscape in Brandenburg, for now, remains as unpredictable as ever.
