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BERLÍN Berlin’s Left party cleared the way for coalition talks with the Greens and SPD
A party congress approved by a large majority the start of negotiations for a three-party government in the German capital. The debate was overshadowed by controversy over Palestine, outside pressure and the role of Elif Eralp.
Berlin’s Left party voted at a party congress to open coalition negotiations with the Greens and the SPD, both of which had already backed that step. Der Spiegel reported that the talks can begin on Monday.
According to the magazine, the motion passed by a wide margin, with only a small number of votes against and abstentions. Delegates responded with strong applause for lead candidate Elif Eralp, who appeared visibly relieved after the decision.
In her speech, Eralp denounced what she described as escalating attacks from outside against her and her party. She also defended a political agenda centered on people rather than profit. One of the main issues in the prospective alliance is a plan to place about 160,000 apartments owned by large corporations into public ownership, an idea included in the exploratory paper agreed by the three parties, according to Der Spiegel.
Eralp also referred to a Der Spiegel report on an internal document that, she said, had reached the newsroom by mistake. The outlet said the material was an authorized version of an interview that still contained comments and internal notes. In that file, Eralp had asked to remove a question and answer about Ibrahim Ibrahim, whom the magazine describes as a Hamas sympathizer, and expressed concern for her own safety and that of her family.
At the congress, Eralp also said she would act against organized crime and the glorification of violence regardless of where it came from, presenting that as a pledge to protect Berlin residents.
Outside the venue in Lichtenberg, dozens of radical pro-Palestinian activists gathered, Der Spiegel reported. Palestinian flags were visible, along with banners criticizing Germany’s reason of state and signs aimed directly at Eralp. Ramsis Kilani, who was expelled from the party after statements the magazine described as antisemitic and as glorifying terrorism, was also present.
Berlin lawmaker Vanessa Emde, who has faced criticism over her positions on Israel, spoke to the demonstrators and argued that there should be no coalition without apartment socialization and no coalition without solidarity with Palestine, according to Der Spiegel. After her remarks, demonstrators chanted slogans in support of the intifada. Parliamentary group co-chair Tobias Schulze told the magazine that it was up to Emde herself to decide where she speaks. No motion has so far been filed to expel her from the group.
Der Spiegel also said the broader government-formation process in Berlin has been complicated by a debate over how to confront antisemitism. Before the current negotiations, the Left, the Greens and the SPD had already agreed on a joint statement on antisemitism, Israel’s right to exist and the protection of Jewish life, with the aim of incorporating it into a coalition agreement.
Sources
About this piece. Written by El Notero with AI assistance, from reporting published by the outlet cited above. El Notero did no original reporting on this story.
