The SPD and the Greens are considering a coalition with the Left in Berlin despite allegations of anti-Semitism and Remmo clan connections

Neither anti-Semitism, its relationship with the Remmo clan nor membership in the Red Aid are stopping the left in its course. In any case, none of this prevented the SPD and the Greens from entering into talks with the Left Party about whether they could govern Berlin together. The three of them would undoubtedly want that. To the left of center, no one has any intention of building a firewall; it was only built to the right of center to wall in the Union.

From the point of view of its supporters, a red-red-green coalition in Berlin would finally be a “project” in which one could pursue left-wing social and economic policy to one's heart's content, unhindered by a local CDU, which, although it has also moved to the left, is still far too right-wing for the real left.

See F.A.Z. articles more often in your search results

F.A.Z. prefer on Google

Many people prefer to close their left eye rather than their right

And some are certainly thinking - some in the ecstasy of victory, others out of existential fear - about whether a flawless left-wing coalition in the federal government would also be possible. To do this, the three parties would only have to get an average of just over 15 percent each. This could certainly be achievable if, in the political chaos after the breakup of the black-red coalition, the cards were reshuffled and the call was made that one must absolutely prevent the AfD from coming to power - anything would be better than that. To this day, many people prefer to turn a blind eye to the left eye rather than the right one.

But could the whole of Germany also afford an experiment like the one that is about to begin in Berlin under worrying circumstances? The development in the German capital is being closely followed abroad, both friendly and hostile, but is not seen as a provincial farce, but as a sign of dwindling political stability now also in Germany. If we waver or stumble, the Chancellor is right, then the Europe threatened by Putin and abandoned by Trump will also waver. The black-red coalition, but also the general public, should keep this in mind when there is a dispute about long-term care insurance, the sugar tax or a beach chair.