Berlin: SPD leftists defend coalition talks with leftists and Greens

Coalition or ignore? That is the big question for the SPD in Berlin. The reports of anti-Semitism and clan contacts among the potential government partner, the Left, are also causing a lot of anger among the Social Democrats. A number of comrades are pushing for the negotiations to be broken off, and SPD leader Lars Klingbeil recently made a clear statement towards the Left Party.

From the left wing of the SPD, however, there is a call to hold on to coalition talks with the Left and the Greens. »The elections in Berlin brought about a progressive majority. The election result now offers the opportunity to use these majorities to bring about concrete improvements for the benefit of the people in the city," said Hakan Demir from the board of the Parliamentary Left (PL) to the "Rheinische Post".

The PL is the largest group within the SPD parliamentary group and is considered the central platform for the left wing. "Especially in times of growing inequality, high rents and great social uncertainty, we need a policy that creates social security and gives people reasons for confidence," said Demir, who is also a member of the Bundestag for the Berlin constituency of Neukölln. The coalition negotiations are therefore correct.

However, Demir also explained: “Anti-Semites and people who trivialize terrorism must never be held politically responsible. The Berlin SPD is taking a clear stance against anti-Semitism and expects the same from potential coalition partners.

Emde causes outrage

Left-wing politician Vanessa Emde in particular caused outrage after the election in Berlin. This denies states their right to exist - and thus obviously also refers to Israel. In addition, solidarity was expressed with the terrorist sympathizer Ibrahim Ibrahim, with whom leftists in Neukölln in particular maintain connections. Emde is still part of the left-wing faction in the Berlin House of Representatives. The party is currently wrestling with the question of how to deal with the controversial politician.

SPD leader Klingbeil called on the Berlin Left on Wednesday to exclude politicians with anti-Semitic attitudes and clan contacts from their ranks. "We can't criticize Saxony-Anhalt if we then let things get away with things in Berlin," said the Vice Chancellor. For the Berlin Left, this means "that the anti-Semitic forces and those who have to do with the clans will be thrown out of the structures there."

Other prominent SPD politicians, including Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and former Health Minister Karl Lauterbach, openly warned against an alliance with the Berlin Left.

Left-wing politician Gregor Gysi reacted indignantly to Klingbeil's statements. The SPD chairman is equating the situation in Saxony-Anhalt and Berlin, criticized Gysi in the “Rheinische Post”. Klingbeil apparently did not notice "how often the Left has co-governed in federal states without any distortions being observed."

Klingbeil's statements were "foolhardy" and led to "the SPD constantly and everywhere losing votes in order to then distribute 'good advice'," said Gysi.

The discussion about how the left deals with radical pro-Palestine activists and anti-Semitic tendencies in its own ranks was recently fueled by a SPIEGEL investigation. Last Thursday she revealed that Eralp had written in an internal note that she and her husband were afraid of the terrorist sympathizer Ibrahim Ibrahim, who is networked in parts of the party. (Read the SPIEGEL cover story here.)