Berlin coalition talks: SPD's Krach demands Left back strong police

Berlin SPD leader Steffen Krach stepped up pressure in exploratory talks with the Left Party and the Greens, demanding a clear commitment to a strong police force and a strong domestic intelligence service. Whoever runs the interior department must strengthen both: "That is a basic condition," Krach told RBB Inforadio, according to dpa. Berlin Left Party leader Maximilian Schirmer countered that if the Left governs, large housing companies must be socialized.

The talks at the Haus der Statistik near Alexanderplatz are set to continue this week, with the parties aiming to decide by Friday whether to open formal coalition negotiations. The main disputes are the socialization of large housing firms and how to pay for campaign promises amid looming budget gaps. The Left's parliamentary group meets Tuesday, also to discuss an agreement on tackling antisemitism.

SPD general secretary Tim Klüssendorf told the taz newspaper he still had doubts whether Berlin's Left Party was really able to "rein in the forces" within its ranks, saying a red-green-red alliance was no foregone conclusion. Berlin's chief election officer Stephan Bröchler was due to present the final result of the Sept. 20 state election on Monday morning.