Berlin: CDU, SPD and Greens talk to each other, but do not explore (emphasize SPD and Greens)

In Berlin, the Left, the SPD and the Greens have decided to hold coalition negotiations, while at the same time there is a debate about the relationship of parts of the Left to anti-Semitism. In the midst of these efforts, the CDU has now made its own offer for talks. A party spokeswoman said the CDU state chairman Stefan Evers had invited the leadership of the Greens and SPD to joint discussions about the current situation.

This step was taken “in view of the worrying progress of the explorations and with a view to the need for decisions in the next few weeks.” And: “The invitation and the discussions themselves are confidential.”

The SPD and the Greens agreed. "Mr. Evers invited us to a meeting and of course we talk to each other again and again," said SPD state chairwoman Bettina König to the dpa news agency. "We are currently governing this federal state together and have enough to clarify, but this is not an exploratory exercise."

The Greens also emphasized that it was not about a possible government formation with the CDU. “These are not exploratory talks, but rather a conversation about the constructive design of the transition period until the new government is formed,” said the regional association.

According to information from the "Tagesspiegel", which was the first to report on the invitation, the conversation will take place on October 29th - the Left, as the election winner, did not invite Evers to it. According to dpa information, the issues are likely to include the question of a supplementary budget given the tense financial situation. On that day, the new Berlin House of Representatives also meets for its constituent meeting.

If a coalition were to come into being under Left Party leader Elif Eralp, it would have a total of 91 seats, which would be 14 more than the absolute majority. A coalition of the CDU, the Greens and the SPD would also be possible, although the number of mandates would only be two seats above the absolute majority. Since there are many reservations in the ranks of the Greens and SPD about an alliance with the CDU, this option is considered unlikely.

CDU top candidate Evers, who is also the incumbent Senator for Finance and Culture, has been in a kind of holding position with his party since the election on September 20th. "The CDU's hand remains outstretched for an alliance of responsibility and reason, the leadership of the Greens and SPD know that from all previous discussions," he said now.

"Since the leaders of the Green Party declared from the beginning and then publicly that they would strive for a coalition with the Left under all circumstances and would not consider another alliance, an invitation to formal explorations has unfortunately not yet been considered," said the Berlin CDU.