Coalition Government Collapse in Brandenburg as SPD and BSW Split

The coalition government between the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Left Party (BSW) in Brandenburg has collapsed after just over a year in power. Ministerpräsident Dietmar Woidke announced that the coalition lost its majority following the exit of three BSW parliamentary members, causing internal divisions and ending support for the coalition agreement.

Woidke described the dissolution of the coalition as stemming from the "collapse" of the BSW faction, which faced ongoing internal conflicts concerning its political direction and the coalition partnership. Some members left the party in November, citing "authoritarian tendencies" under coalition leadership, although a few eventually returned. Despite losing its majority, Woidke plans to continue governing as a minority government with appointed BSW ministers remaining in office. He also hinted at potential coalition talks with the CDU, which currently holds a one-vote majority in the Landtag, but noted no discussions have occurred yet. The CDU awaits a clear signal from the SPD before proceeding.

The Alternative for Germany (AfD) has called for new elections, a proposal Woidke rejected, emphasizing stability despite the political turmoil. Meanwhile, SPD General Secretary Kurt Fischer criticized the CDU's approach to coalition-building in the region, describing their plans for a "bürgerliches Bündnis" as a "cheap political bargain" lacking substantive collaboration. Fischer expressed concern about the CDU's strategy of tactical agreements without clear, shared political objectives and contrasted it with what he described as the transparent support SPD's Daniel Kurth receives from the Left party.

The SPD-BSW coalition had governed since December 2024 but was destabilized after multiple BSW members departed amid internal disputes. The collapse highlights the fragile nature of coalition politics in Brandenburg, with Woidke seeking to maintain governance stability while exploring future coalition configurations.

Ultimately, the political landscape in Brandenburg faces uncertainty as minority rule begins and possible new alliances are contemplated, with all parties emphasizing the need for transparency and clear political goals moving forward.