The red-green-red exploratory talks in Berlin are on hold - and the parties now have to clarify how things should proceed. Green Party leader Franziska Brantner supports interrupting the talks. “The Left Party did not stick to the agreement. And that is unfortunate,” she said on the ARD program Maischberger.
The background is a dispute over a joint declaration on how to deal with anti-Semitism. Parts of the Berlin Left are criticized for their positions on Israel and Palestine and anti-Semitism. Last week, before the explorations began, the Left, the Greens and the SPD in Berlin concluded an agreement on how they would deal with anti-Semitic incidents in the ranks of the Left in the event of a coalition.
On Tuesday, the members of the Left parliamentary group in the House of Representatives signed a declaration on the subject that was similar in content but of their own. The Greens and the SPD then declared that this must now be evaluated - the explorations have been suspended since then.
Criticism from the federal leadership
The dispute has now reached the federal party leadership. “Of course you need reliability and trust,” said Green Party leader Brantner. There is a problem with anti-Semitism and organized crime in the Left Party in Berlin. This problem must be clarified before talking about other things.
There was an agreement on this last week, which the Left unfortunately did not adhere to. “We hope that the Left Party will come back to the table,” said Brantner. But as long as that isn't the case, you can of course no longer talk about content.
Schwerdtner expresses regret
Left leader Ines Schwerdtner regretted the cessation of the talks in the joint morning magazine of ARD and ZDF. At the same time, she defended the declaration that all Left MPs had signed at the constitutive meeting of her group on Tuesday in the Berlin House of Representatives. This is “practically identical” to the agreement between the Left, the SPD and the Greens. There were no softenings.
Co-party leader Tobias Schulze reacted similarly. “From our point of view, last week’s agreement applies,” he said on RBB. In his opinion, it is now about establishing trust. "That we, like the Greens and the SPD, are interested in ensuring that Jewish people in Berlin can live safely. That we are really working on a common goal," explained Schulze.
At the same time, the co-party leader made it clear that the Left was still responsible for personnel decisions. “The left has to decide which people they will go to parliament with,” said Schulze.
Criticism of Emde's personnel
The Berlin Left had previously accepted the controversial Neukölln MP Vanessa Emde into its new parliamentary group. Like all other MPs present, Emde also signed the declaration in which she declared her support for Israel's right to exist and the fight against anti-Semitism. Co-parliamentary group leader Schulze said he assumed that Emde would also adhere to this declaration.
Emde was heavily criticized during the election campaign. In the past, she has repeatedly made statements that critics have interpreted as anti-Semitic, which Emde vehemently denies. Against this background, there was speculation that Emde might not become part of the Left faction. The Greens and SPD may also have expected this.
Explorations have gone well so far
According to information from negotiating circles, the explorations had made good progress before the interruption, but there are still difficult points. In the last few days there have been intensive but also good discussions with the Greens and the SPD, said co-group leader Elif Eralp, who wants to be the first left-wing politician to move into the Berlin town hall.
Evers brings CDU-led coalition into discussion
The CDU, meanwhile, positioned itself for a possible coalition led by it in the capital. “I make it clear that our hand is outstretched, our door is open,” said CDU leading candidate Stefan Evers on Welt TV. "As soon as I get the signal that people are ready to think about forming such an alliance, we will start talking."
At the same time, Evers emphasized that he was taking the election results seriously. "The left is clearly the strongest force." If the Greens still wanted a coalition with the Left, he would not impose himself. He won't "talk about anything in parallel that doesn't lead to any result."
