Nach der Wahl in Berlin: Parteien suchen Einigung zum Thema Antisemitismus in Berlin

After the Berlin state parliament elections, the left, Green, and SPD parties have not yet reached an agreement on common ground for tackling antisemitism. Two and a half weeks after the Berlin state parliament election, the three parties continue searching for a unified stance on consistently addressing antisemitism, according to dpa information.

After the third so-called pre-meeting, the top personnel from the three parties left the meeting venue on a late afternoon without commenting on the contents. However, an agreement on this matter is seen as a prerequisite for starting exploratory talks aimed at a possible government formation under left-wing leadership in the capital city.

A meeting is therefore scheduled for Thursday, hoping that they will finally manage to navigate through the highly contentious topic. The left has been criticized for some time due to their positions on Israel and Palestine, as well as antisemitism, which has been criticized in some cases for statements made by individual left-wing members.

This has been particularly evident following a party event organized by the Neukölln left on September 20th, where both a head of an Arab-descent and crime-linked clan and a controversial pro-Palestinian activist were present. The latter is believed to be affiliated with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), which is classified as a terror organization by the EU.

This has caused irritation among potential coalition partners. The Greens and SPD have called for a joint understanding on the issues of antisemitism, racism, and organized crime before starting exploratory talks. Exploratory talks are the preliminary step before negotiations on forming a government coalition, during which the parties first determine which issues are most important to them and whether they find government negotiations promising.

However, government negotiations have not been expected so far. The alternatives to red-green-red are, however, manageable. With the election to the city parliament on September 20th, the left emerged as the strongest force with 25.7 percent, followed by CDU (18.8 percent), AfD (16.3 percent), Green (14.3 percent), and SPD (12.1 percent).

The previously ruling coalition of CDU and SPD has lost its majority in the city parliament. The left is now hoping for a red-green-red coalition. If this happens, it could result in the first leftist female mayor in Berlin, with Elif Eralp, the left's joint candidate and co-fracture leader. A coalition of CDU, Greens, and SPD could also be mathematically possible, should the left, Green, and Social Democrats fail to reach an agreement.

Discussing the possibility of a minority government consisting of the left and Green parties has also been debated within the SPD. Considering the challenges Berlin faces, such as the need to draft a new budget, this remains at least problematic. Skepticism towards a red-green-red government has, however, been met with significant resistance recently.

The "Berlin Call for Responsibility," for instance, recently warned against a coalition with the left. Among the approximately 80 initial signatories are prominent figures, including former Bundestag President Wolfgang Thierse (SPD), former Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer (Green), and former Chancellor's chief of staff Peter Altmaier (CDU).

In this appeal, it is stated, "A government majority must be sought that best represents the interests of as many parts of society as possible and shares common fundamental beliefs in the rule of law and democracy. That is not the case with a red-green-red government."