Berlin SPD agrees to exploratory coalition talks with Die Linke and Greens

Unanimous vote clears path for talks

The state executive board of the Berlin SPD voted unanimously on Saturday to accept Die Linke's invitation to exploratory talks. All three prospective coalition partners have now approved preliminary discussions on forming a state government. Die Linke finished first in the Berlin state election on 20 September with 25.7% of the vote, aiming to make lead candidate Elif Eralp governing mayor. The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) took second place, while the SPD finished in fifth place. Green state co-chairs Nina Stahr and Philmon Ghirmai agreed to talks earlier in the week, and Die Linke delegates voted by a large majority at a Friday party congress to invite both parties. The SPD negotiating team will comprise up to five members, including co-chairs Bettina König and Steffen Krach alongside parliamentary representative Derya Caglar. Krach noted that a mathematical majority also exists for a coalition of the CDU, Greens, and SPD.

Security and cabinet portfolio demands

Federal Green Party co-leader Franziska Brantner set strict conditions for any three-party coalition, rejecting the possibility of Die Linke leading the interior or justice departments. Brantner cited contacts between individual Linke politicians, including federal lawmaker Ferat Kocak, and members of organized crime families such as the Remmo clan or supporters of Hamas and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). She rejected Linke platform demands to dissolve the state domestic intelligence agency (Verfassungsschutz) and replace police units with social work.

I personally find it difficult to imagine that Die Linke leads the interior or justice ministry, as long as there are people in the party with connections to organized crime or to extremist forces like the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the PFLP, or Hamas.

At Die Linke's extraordinary congress on Friday evening, Berlin co-leader Kerstin Wolter acknowledged past mistakes, stating that rhetoric within the party had caused fear among Jewish residents. Co-chair Maximilian Schirmer stated that protection rackets and organized crime damage local neighbourhoods. Lead candidate Elif Eralp assured delegates that as mayor she would protect every life in Berlin.

Yes, we must say, boundaries were crossed.

Housing disputes and budget constraints

Substantive negotiations also face disagreements over housing policy and public finances. Die Linke's party congress resolution made the implementation of the 2021 referendum on expropriating large housing corporations a mandatory condition for coalition talks. SPD lead candidate Steffen Krach excluded corporate expropriation under his participation during the election campaign, while members of the Greens remain divided on the issue.

There are certainly very high hurdles. To be honest, the last few days were also not such that they were absolutely confidence-building.

The three parties previously governed Berlin together from 2016 to 2023, but face a public budget deficit requiring approximately €7 billion in consolidation over the next two years. Former German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated on Friday evening at a citizen event in Nuthetal that Die Linke must accept compromises during negotiations. Exploratory talks will begin in the coming week, with Die Linke holding separate bilateral sessions with the Greens and SPD before parties decide whether to proceed to formal coalition negotiations.