Coalition talks in Berlin stall as CDU seeks to block AfD in Saxony-Anhalt

Berlin's Left party wants to govern with the Social Democrats and Greens after winning the election there.

The proposed coalition talks are on hold after a dispute over antisemitism within the Left party.

The dispute concerns a woman the party wanted to include in its parliamentary group who had appeared with people described as open antisemites and allies of Hamas-linked organizations.

In Saxony-Anhalt, the CDU says it plans to leave the parliament chamber on 15 December to prevent its members from helping AfD leader Ulrich Siegmund become state premier.

The AfD is classified as a far-right party in Saxony-Anhalt by the region's domestic intelligence service.

Some CDU members may still break away and vote for Siegmund, while the party could also face difficult government-formation talks or new elections if he is blocked.

The coming weeks will decide whether either plan succeeds and whether the political center keeps its distance from the parties' extremes.