# BSW Internal Dispute Over Nomination of Journalist Constantin Schreiber for Federal Convention BSW leadership criticizes the selection of pro-Israel journalist Constantin Schreiber as a convention delegate. - **Source:** [Der Spiegel – Politik](https://www.spiegel.de/politik) - **Published:** 2026-11-07 - **Topic:** [politics](https://brifing.si/c/politics) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/38f8c459-3080-4dca-9cc2-93374af6ec88 ## Controversial Nomination Sparks Backlash The BSW faction in the Saxon state parliament recently nominated former Tagesschau presenter Constantin Schreiber for the Federal Convention. This decision triggered immediate internal criticism from BSW federal leaders Fabio De Masi and Amira Mohamed Ali. They argue that Schreiber’s views on the Middle East, Ukraine, and economic policy fundamentally conflict with party positions. ## Ideological Clashes Within BSW Critics within the party, including deputy federal chair Michael Lüders and the youth organization JSW, have expressed strong opposition. They label Schreiber an 'Israel propagandist' or 'genocide denier' due to his pro-Israel stance regarding the conflict in Gaza. The party leadership maintains that nominating him does not imply an endorsement of his personal political views. ## Rationale Behind the Selection Saxon BSW faction leader Ronny Kupke defended the choice, stating that the goal was to include diverse voices and challenge the status quo of established parties. Kupke argued that the party should engage with individuals holding different opinions. Originally, the party intended to send General Secretary Oliver Ruhnert, but scheduling conflicts necessitated a replacement. ## The Role of Federal Convention The Federal Convention, scheduled for January 30, is tasked with electing Germany’s next president. It consists of 630 Bundestag members and an equal number of delegates chosen by state parliaments. These delegates do not have to be elected politicians, allowing parties to nominate prominent public figures to represent their regional interests and ideological perspectives. ## Broader Context of Nominations Other parties are also nominating non-politicians for the upcoming vote. The Greens have proposed climate activist Luisa Neubauer, musician Hartmut Engler, and Nobel laureate Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard. Meanwhile, the SPD is nominating publicist Michel Friedman, and the CDU is considering former Chancellor Angela Merkel. These selections highlight the diverse strategies parties use to influence the presidency. ## Presidential Succession Dynamics While the convention process unfolds, reports suggest that the coalition parties—CDU, CSU, and SPD—are leaning toward nominating Bavarian state parliament president Ilse Aigner as Frank-Walter Steinmeier’s successor. The CDU reportedly intends to forgo nominating its own candidate, aiming for a consensus choice among the coalition partners to ensure a stable transition of power. ## Internal Party Friction General Secretary Oliver Ruhnert expressed surprise at the nomination, noting that he would have preferred an internal discussion before finalizing the decision. Despite the controversy, he cautioned against turning the appointment into a major political crisis, emphasizing that it represents a single delegate position rather than a formal role within the BSW party structure. ## Future Implications of Selection As the January 30 election approaches, the BSW must manage the fallout from this internal disagreement. While Schreiber is only one of 33 delegates from Saxony, the incident underscores the difficulty of maintaining ideological purity while attempting to project a broader, more inclusive image to the German public during high-stakes political events. ## Sources covering this story - [Der Spiegel – Politik — BSW Leadership Criticizes Nomination of Constantin Schreiber for Federal Convention](https://www.spiegel.de/politik/bsw-spitze-kritisiert-nominierung-von-constantin-schreiber-fuer-die-bundesversammlung-a-3e0ec6e6-ccfd-47dd-bf21-1877ca10ae19#ref=rss) - [taz — BSW Internal Conflict Over Nomination of Constantin Schreiber](https://taz.de/Wagenknecht-Partei-BSW-in-Aufruhr/!6228176/) --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._