Those who come to the Berlin Left party conference on Friday will notice a poster upon arrival. It says: "Left-wing Jews on the side of the Berlin Left. Palestine solidarity is not anti-Semitism." A group of young people distribute red roses with the Jewish greeting "Mazel Tov" to the delegates.
There is no doubt: the question of how the Left in Berlin views anti-Semitism has overshadowed all other issues since the party's victory in the Berlin House of Representatives election. Triggered by photos and chats of Bundestag member Ferat Kocak with members of the Remmo clan family and a photo next to the activist Ibrahim Ibrahim, who is known for anti-Israel statements and is a member of an organization that the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution classifies as extremist.
Concerns among the Greens and the SPD
While Kocak has withdrawn politically for the time being without it being clear what that means, the left is confronted with the demand to draw clear consequences. Above all, representatives of the Greens and the SPD, with whom the Berlin Left now wants to start official exploratory talks.
There are concerns among state and federal politicians from both parties. They are concerned that although the Left promises to take action against anti-Semitism within its own ranks, the conflict within the party will remain and will overshadow any attempt to govern. The Greens and the SPD could then be held responsible.
A dilemma for leading politicians who do not want possible negative developments in the state to spill over into the federal government. And it's a question of trust: How much freedom do you give the Berlin regional association, how much influence do you try to exert?
Greens want a clear stance
The Greens say internally that the federal party will accompany the process. How tight remains an open question. Co-leader of the parliamentary group Katharina Dröge believes it is necessary for the Berlin Greens to enter into the talks with a “clear stance and also with red lines”. The Left will be measured by “whether clear and unambiguous agreements can be made here in the fight against anti-Semitism.” Credible measures are needed to combat anti-Semitic incidents in the party.
The Green Prime Minister of Baden-Württemberg, Cem Özdemir, admits that he cannot explain from Berlin how the government is formed in Baden-Württemberg, but the federal capital is the calling card. "If I want Germany to be attractive, also for skilled workers, for immigration, for business, if Germany has to remain open to the world, then the federal capital must be governed sensibly."
SPD also demands confession
The SPD also demands a clear commitment from the left against anti-Semitism. The head of the federal party wrote in a post on Instagram that "anti-Semitic slogans have no place in our society or in our politics. The Left will be measured by this and clearly must not leave an inch of space for anti-Semitism and clan criminals in its ranks."
The domestic policy spokesman for the SPD parliamentary group, Sebastian Fiedler, made it clearer to the ARD capital studio: "The question arises as to whether we have only seen the tip of the iceberg or whether there are structural issues. And as long as these are not answered, no state can be created with the left in Berlin."
It is the warning finger. The parties do not set any specific conditions. Few people are explicitly calling for Bundestag member Kocak to be expelled from the party. What could really allay the concerns remains unclear. There are individuals in the SPD who are threatening to leave the party if there is a coalition with the left in Berlin. Other Social Democrats are thinking aloud about a minority government made up of the Left and the Greens, which could be tolerated. The question always resonates: Is the Berlin Left in 2026 capable of governing?
Left with “very realpolitik issues”
The left has proven in many state parliaments that it can govern. Often over a long period of time, mostly silent, willing to compromise, pragmatic. In Berlin, for example, from 2001 to 2011. At that time, the Left was jointly responsible for the sale of tens of thousands of public apartments due to rigid austerity measures. Or in Thuringia with Bodo Ramelow as Prime Minister. The Left was also in government in Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
Sarah Wagner is a political scientist at Queen's University of Belfast and has been involved with left-wing parties for some time. She is of the opinion that the Left has developed into a party whose issues are very much geared towards social, economic and tax policy.
"All very real political issues and less ideological debates. Less cargo bikes and more the question of what's in the account," said Wagner tagesschau.de. This is different than it was five or six years ago. At the same time, the left is now very professional and has the staff and resources to govern. "The party has rarely been as united as it is now. It sees itself as a whole project, and that is something new." However, the political content offers potential for conflict for a coalition, such as the demand to socialize housing companies.
"We know that we have a responsibility"
An example of how the left acts in a government is Bremen. The Left has governed there since 2019 together with Alliance 90/The Greens and the SPD, although as the smallest among the three partners. “We are three parties with sometimes different views,” says Sofia Leonidakis, co-leader of the Left in Bremen’s parliament, to tagesschau.de. "But ultimately the overlaps outweigh the differences. We know that we have a responsibility here." People rule “pragmatically and with little conflict, but not without results.”
Leonidakis was in Berlin and celebrated the election victory with her party friend Elif Eralp. But afterwards she was also confronted with accusations of anti-Semitism against her party in Bremen. The politician therefore demands from her party, "We have to do our homework. I don't know of anyone in a senior position who says we don't have a problem."
At the same time, it is completely exaggerated to describe the Left as an anti-Semitic party. Leonidakis sees this as a defamation campaign. She considers her party's distancing in Berlin to be absolutely credible. “At the organizational level, there needs to be more than just verbal distancing; measures are needed to prevent something like this from happening in the future.” Also in terms of the ability to govern, says Leonidakis. In any case, the Bremen politician hopes that her party will continue to govern after the elections in May 2027.
There is more at stake for the Greens
The Left's possible coalition partners are currently still talking a lot about red lines and clear commitments, but there is also a purely power-political argument that could play a role for the Greens.
At least Bundestag member Paula Piechotta said it on
If the Greens co-govern in both Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Berlin, the states with Green government participation will have 35 votes. That would be the absolute majority in the Federal Council, the state chamber. This would allow the Greens to refuse to approve laws they oppose.
