Berlin's Giffey opposes coalition with Left Party, calling it 'not justifiable'

Berlin economy senator and former mayor Franziska Giffey of the Social Democrats has come out against a coalition with the Left Party in the middle of exploratory talks on a Left-Green-SPD government for the German capital. She wrote on Instagram that she considered such a coalition "not justifiable" and that talks could not continue without a "clear and unequivocal position of all three negotiating partners on antisemitism."

Giffey pointed to around 120 Left Party politicians who publicly opposed a joint agreement on fighting antisemitism, and to internal party chats published by Tagesspiegel, which she said showed "a radicalism that has nothing in common with responsible government in the German capital." She did not say whether she prefers an alliance with the CDU and Greens or going into opposition. An SPD group, Forum35, has drafted a motion proposing opposition and tolerating a Left-Green minority government.

The Left, Greens and SPD met again on Sunday and plan to continue on Monday without disclosing interim results. Brandenburg SPD politician Kurt Fischer told dpa no responsible coalition for the capital was possible without tougher action against radical members. The Left Party's national leadership hopes Berlin can become a "beacon for a change in policy."