Politics · Germany · 14 hrs ago
Nouripour warns Berlin Greens against coalition with the Left
Omid Nouripour, a Green Party politician and vice-president of Germany’s parliament, has warned his party’s Berlin members against forming a coalition with the Left party.
The Left, Greens and Social Democrats began coalition talks in Berlin on Thursday.
Nouripour said concerns about antisemitism and alleged links to organised crime made the Left a security risk.
He also criticised the party’s handling of its MP Ferat Kocak, who appears in photos with Ibrahim Ibrahim, an alleged supporter of terrorism.
Kocak said he did not know Ibrahim and, in late September, gave up his seat on parliament’s interior committee while keeping his parliamentary seat.
The parties had agreed that strict penalties for antisemitism and contacts with criminal clans would be a condition for talks.
They have also planned a commission to discuss antisemitism cases, and Nouripour called for Germany’s Central Council of Jews to appoint its members.
Green politician Omid Nouripour warned his Berlin party colleagues against forming a coalition with the Left.
He said the Left had an open flank over alleged antisemitism and links to organised crime, calling it a security risk.
The Greens, Left and Social Democrats began coalition talks in Berlin on Thursday.
Nouripour criticised the Left’s handling of lawmaker Ferat Kocak, who appeared in photos with Ibrahim Ibrahim, described in the article as an alleged terrorism supporter.
Kocak gave up his seat on the Bundestag’s interior committee in late September but kept his parliamentary seat.
- Who
- Green politician Omid Nouripour warned his Berlin party colleagues. The coalition talks involve the Greens, the Left and the Social Democrats.
- What
- Nouripour opposed a coalition with the Left, citing security concerns.
- When
- The coalition talks began on Thursday. Kocak gave up his committee seat in late September.
- Where
- Berlin, Germany.
- Why
- Nouripour cited allegations of antisemitism and links to organised crime within the Left, as well as the party’s handling of Ferat Kocak’s contacts.
Omid Nouripour
Berlin coalition proponents
Coalition with the Left
Omid Nouripour
Nouripour warned against forming a coalition, saying the party’s alleged vulnerabilities made it a security risk.
Berlin coalition proponents
The Greens, Left and Social Democrats began coalition talks, with jointly agreed strict sanctions on antisemitism and clan contacts as a prerequisite.
Handling of Ferat Kocak
Omid Nouripour
Nouripour said he did not believe Kocak’s account that he did not know Ibrahim Ibrahim.
Berlin coalition proponents
Kocak said he was stepping down from the Bundestag’s interior committee so the Left’s parliamentary group could continue its work without the debate about him.
A party that wants to provide the governing majority here and has an open flank on this issue is a security risk—not only for Berlin.
Kocak’s story that he did not know the activist is not one I would buy.
My main issue is: Ibrahim Ibrahim is the representative of a terrorist organisation. And in no photo does it look as if he (Kocak) does not know him.
The Left parliamentary group should be able to continue its work in this committee unburdened by the debate about me.
Ferat Kocak gave up his seat on the Bundestag’s interior committee, acknowledged wrongdoing and kept his Bundestag seat.
The Greens, Left and Social Democrats in Berlin began coalition talks, after agreeing on strict sanctions concerning antisemitism and clan contacts.
- Warning
- Omid Nouripour opposed a Berlin coalition with the Left
- Coalition talks
- Greens, Left and Social Democrats
- Kocak’s committee seat
- Gave it up in late September
- Kocak’s parliamentary seat
- Retained his Bundestag mandate
- Proposed commission
- Nouripour said it should include the Central Council of Jews in Germany
Sources
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