Politics · Germany · 5 hrs ago
Thierse urges Berlin SPD to reject coalition with the Left party
Former Bundestag president Wolfgang Thierse urged Berlin’s SPD to reject an alliance with the Left party.
He said the party should consider a coalition with the CDU and Greens, possibly led by an independent mayor.
Thierse cited parts of the Left party’s stance on Israel and its plans to nationalise housing as reasons he doubts it is fit to govern in Berlin.
SPD Bundestag member Hakan Demir defended the planned alliance of the SPD, Greens and Left party, saying talks had secured outcomes including no police job cuts.
Demir said the three-party coalition would have a 14-seat majority, while a coalition with the CDU and Greens would face opposition from four Green lawmakers.
Thierse said any agreement with the Left party and Greens should be put to an SPD membership vote.
Demir said a state party convention could decide instead, and coalition talks are ongoing.
Former Bundestag president Wolfgang Thierse urged Berlin’s SPD to reject a coalition with the Left party and instead seek an alliance with the CDU and Greens.
Thierse said parts of the Left party’s positions on Israel and housing nationalisation made it unfit to govern in Berlin.
He proposed that a coalition with the CDU and Greens could be led by an independent mayoral candidate.
SPD Bundestag member Hakan Demir defended a coalition with the Left party and Greens, saying it would have a 14-seat majority.
Demir said the CDU had been decisively rejected in the election and that some Green politicians would not join a coalition with it.
- Who
- Wolfgang Thierse urged Berlin’s SPD to reject the Left party coalition. SPD lawmaker Hakan Demir defended the proposed alliance.
- What
- Thierse recommended a coalition with the CDU and Greens instead of the Left party and Greens.
- When
- The article was published on October 23, 2026.
- Where
- Berlin, Germany.
- Why
- Thierse cited parts of the Left party’s positions on Israel and housing nationalisation. Demir said the proposed alliance had a stable majority and a CDU-Greens alternative was not viable.
Wolfgang Thierse
Hakan Demir
Coalition partners
Wolfgang Thierse
The SPD should reject a coalition with the Left party and seek an alliance with the CDU and Greens.
Hakan Demir
The SPD should proceed with a coalition with the Left party and Greens.
Left party’s suitability
Wolfgang Thierse
Parts of the party’s positions on Israel and housing nationalisation make it unfit to govern in Berlin.
Hakan Demir
The Berlin party is different from other regional branches and is not wholly left-radical or extremist.
Alternative coalition
Wolfgang Thierse
A CDU-Greens coalition could be led by an independent mayoral candidate.
Hakan Demir
A CDU-Greens coalition is not a viable alternative, in part because some Green politicians would not join it.
This story does not have a timeline yet.
- Proposed coalition
- Left party and Greens
- Alternative coalition urged by Thierse
- CDU and Greens, potentially with an independent mayor
- Proposed coalition majority
- 14 seats, according to Demir
- Article publication
- October 23, 2026
What people are saying
The SPD should open itself to the idea of whether a Kenya coalition can be formed, perhaps without a CDU mayor, but with another personality.
The SPD seems right now as if it is in a great hurry to submit to the Left party as quickly as possible.
The Left party here is certainly a different party than in other regional branches, but certainly not wholly left-radical or left-extremist.
It is and remains the goal to find alliances and left-wing majorities beyond the Union.