Berlin's SPD wants to hold exploratory talks with the left about government cooperation

The Berlin SPD has spoken out in favor of exploratory talks with the Left about possible government cooperation. The state executive committee unanimously decided to accept the Left Party's invitation to exploratory talks, the party said. An exploratory team consisting of up to five people will now negotiate possible government participation.

The Left, which clearly won the House of Representatives election last Sunday, previously spoke out at a party conference in favor of inviting the SPD and the Greens to exploratory talks. Before the Left Party Congress, SPD state chairman Steffen Krach said that the success of possible talks cannot be taken for granted. “There are certainly very high hurdles,” he said. "To be honest, the last few days haven't been exactly confidence-building."

The Berlin Left has come under criticism, among other things, because of the controversial positions of parts of the party on the Middle East conflict. The party leadership had rejected allegations of anti-Semitism.

Alliance of CDU, SPD and Greens also mathematically possible

An alliance between the Greens and the SPD with the second-placed CDU would also be mathematically possible. Krach had stated that he would also speak to the CDU if they invited. The Greens, who clearly spoke out in favor of a red-green-red alliance on the evening of the election, want to have a small party conference decide whether to enter into coalition negotiations after successful explorations.