Politics · Germany · 1 day ago
Berlin coalition talks with Left party spark national dispute
Berlin’s Left party, Greens and SPD are holding talks on forming a state government after the Left won the most recent election there.
The talks have prompted a dispute among national politicians, even as the parties plan to continue negotiations at senior level on Sunday.
Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer, who is close to the CDU, urged the SPD leadership to stop the alliance, arguing it could affect the federal coalition of the CDU and SPD.
The SPD rejected his intervention, and its secretary-general challenged the CDU to rule out cooperation with the far-right AfD.
Green politician Omid Nouripour also warned his Berlin party against governing with the Left, citing concerns about antisemitism and alleged links to organised crime involving individual Left politicians.
The Left’s national leadership, by contrast, said a Berlin coalition could become a beacon for political change and help prevent the rise of the right.
The talks are set to continue on Sunday; the sources do not say whether an agreement will follow.
The Left, Greens and Social Democrats are holding exploratory talks on a possible coalition in Berlin.
The talks have triggered growing disagreement among national politicians, including members of Germany’s governing coalition.
Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer urged the SPD leadership to stop a left-wing alliance in the capital.
Green politician Omid Nouripour also warned against the proposed coalition, citing concerns about the Berlin Left.
The Left’s federal party leadership said a coalition could become a “beacon” for political change and help prevent the right’s rise.
- Who
- The Left, Greens and SPD are holding talks; national politicians including Wolfram Weimer and Omid Nouripour have weighed in.
- What
- Exploratory talks on a possible left-wing coalition in Berlin have prompted a national dispute.
- When
- The talks were under way on October 10, 2026; senior-level discussions were due to continue on Sunday.
- Where
- Berlin, Germany.
- Why
- Critics urged the SPD and Greens not to form the coalition, while the Left said it could advance political change and prevent the right’s rise.
Critics of a Berlin coalition with the Left
Supporters of the coalition
Coalition prospects
Critics of a Berlin coalition with the Left
Weimer urged the SPD leadership to prevent the alliance, and Nouripour warned Berlin’s Greens against it.
Supporters of the coalition
The Left’s federal party leadership said the alliance could become a beacon for political change.
Concerns
Critics of a Berlin coalition with the Left
Weimer cited alleged links between Islamist and radical-left milieus; Nouripour raised concerns about antisemitic tendencies and proximity to organised crime among some Berlin Left politicians.
Supporters of the coalition
The Left said a coalition could help prevent the rise of the right and organise hope.
If the SPD party leaders do not immediately and unequivocally prevent a left-wing alliance in Berlin, that would be a vote of no confidence in our coalition.
Anyone speculating about effects on the coalition at the federal level or possible minority governments only shows that they have not understood the seriousness of the situation at all.
A party that wants to form the governing majority here and has an open flank on this issue is a security risk—not only for Berlin.
Berlin can become a beacon for political change that succeeds in preventing the rise of the right and organising hope.
Senior figures in the federal coalition reaffirmed their commitment to working together at a coalition committee meeting.
Green party leader Franziska Brantner called for personnel consequences in the Berlin Left.
The Left, Greens and SPD were continuing exploratory talks in Berlin as national criticism grew.
The Berlin coalition talks were due to continue at senior level.
- Parties in Berlin talks
- The Left, Greens and SPD
- Federal critic
- Wolfram Weimer, Germany’s culture minister
- Green critic
- Omid Nouripour, deputy president of the Bundestag and former Green party leader
- Publication date
- October 10, 2026
- Next talks
- Sunday, at senior level
Sources
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