PEACE remains the sticking point in coalition negotiations with the Christian Democrats (CDU) and Social Democrats (SPD) on forming a government in Thuringia, the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) said as formal talks began today.

Earlier “exploratory” talks concluded only that they would “leave room for discussion of the topic of peace in Europe in future negotiations,” prompting criticism of the Thuringian party from national leader Sahra Wagenknecht, who says a commitment to peace negotiations to end the war in Ukraine and opposition to the stationing of US missiles in Germany should be red lines.

The party leadership in Berlin also urged Thuringian leader Katja Wolf to secure greater concessions on building social housing and protecting hospitals from closure, and said staying in opposition would be preferable to surrendering on principles. Ms Wolf vowed to “sharpen” the position on peace as she enters talks.

September’s election to the Landtag or state parliament saw the far-right Alternative for Germany come first, winning 32.8 per cent of the vote and 32 seats, but 45 seats are needed for a majority and other parties refuse to work with it. The CDU and BSW came second and third, with 23 seats and 15, while the SPD came fifth with eight, after the Left Party, from which the BSW split in January. 

The CDU has always refused to enter coalitions with the Left, because it traces its ancestry via the Party of Democratic Socialism to the Socialist Unity Party, the old ruling party of East Germany. 

Coalition negotiations between the BSW and SPD are also underway in the state of Brandenburg.