Politics · Germany · 5 hrs ago
20 SPD lawmakers oppose coalition talks with Berlin's Left
The Left, Greens and SPD are considering a coalition in Berlin after the Left won the most votes in the September election and the current CDU-SPD government lost its majority.
Twenty SPD members of Germany's federal parliament oppose starting talks with the Left under current conditions.
They cite recurring antisemitism disputes in the Berlin party, reported links to the Remmo clan's environment and contacts with extremist circles.
The lawmakers say these issues raise doubts about the party's political reliability and stress that protecting Jewish life is non-negotiable.
The dispute puts pressure on Berlin's SPD leaders as they weigh whether to pursue a three-party government.
Berlin's SPD and Greens are due to decide on Monday whether to open coalition negotiations with the Left.
Twenty SPD members of Germany’s Bundestag oppose starting coalition talks with the Left Party in Berlin under current conditions.
They say recurring antisemitism disputes, reported contacts with the Remmo clan’s circle and links to extremist milieus raise doubts about the party’s political reliability.
The lawmakers say they respect the Berlin SPD’s authority to decide but argue that shared social-democratic principles must be upheld.
The Berlin SPD and Greens are due to decide on Monday whether to begin talks with the Left Party.
The three parties are seeking to form a government after the CDU-SPD coalition lost its majority in Berlin.
- Who
- Twenty SPD members of the Bundestag oppose the talks. The Berlin SPD, Greens and Left Party are considering a coalition.
- What
- The lawmakers have issued a statement opposing coalition negotiations with the Berlin Left Party under current conditions.
- When
- The statement was reported on 18 October 2026. Berlin party bodies are due to decide on Monday whether to start talks.
- Where
- Berlin, Germany.
- Why
- The lawmakers cite recurring antisemitism disputes, reported contacts with the Remmo clan’s circle and extremist milieus, and doubts about the Left Party’s political reliability.
SPD Bundestag lawmakers opposing talks
Berlin coalition proponents
Basis for a coalition
SPD Bundestag lawmakers opposing talks
They say the Berlin Left Party’s record and reported contacts raise serious doubts about its political reliability.
Berlin coalition proponents
The SPD, Greens and Left Party have completed exploratory talks and are seeking to form a coalition.
Next step
SPD Bundestag lawmakers opposing talks
They oppose starting coalition negotiations under current conditions.
Berlin coalition proponents
Berlin’s SPD and Greens are due to decide on Monday whether to begin negotiations.
The Left Party won 25.7 percent of the vote in Berlin’s state election and became the strongest party.
The Berlin Left Party, SPD and Greens agreed on an arrangement for dealing with antisemitism, according to BILD.
The three parties concluded their exploratory talks.
Berlin’s SPD and Greens are due to decide whether to start coalition negotiations with the Left Party.
- Signatories
- 20 SPD Bundestag members
- Statement heading
- Our compass of values is never negotiable
- Berlin election result
- Left Party won 25.7 percent on 20 September
- Decision on talks
- Berlin SPD and Greens are due to decide on Monday
- Reported agreement
- Berlin Left Party, SPD and Greens agreed on antisemitism measures on 8 October
4 sources
Linksbündnis in Berlin geplant – 20 SPD-Abgeordnete warnen
Aufstand in Bundes-SPD gegen Berliner Linke: „Wertekompass niemals verhandelbar“
"Erhebliche Zweifel": Bericht: 20 SPD-Bundestagsabgeordnete gegen Rot-Grün-Rot in Berlin
Regierungsbildung in Berlin: 20 SPD-Bundestagsabgeordnete lehnen Koalition mit Linken in Berlin ab
What people are saying
Anyone who wants to take on government responsibility in Berlin must share the non-negotiable basic values of our coexistence without any ifs or buts.
The recurring antisemitism disputes in the Berlin state branch of the Left Party, the known contacts in the Remmo circle and with actors from extremist milieus, as well as disputes over how to deal with these events, in our view raise serious doubts about this state branch’s political reliability.
Under the current conditions, we strongly oppose starting coalition negotiations with the Berlin Left Party.
If people who call for the intifada are invited by parts of this coalition every few weeks somewhere, then this project will not remain stable for five years.