Berlin Left Party votes to open coalition talks with Greens and SPD
Delegates in Lichtenberg back the move by a large majority. Talks with the Greens and Social Democrats are set to start Monday, putting Elif Eralp in line to become Berlin's governing mayor.
Archive image · Photo: Ferran Cornellà / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped and resized)
Berlin's Left Party cleared the way on Saturday for coalition negotiations with the Greens and the Social Democrats. Delegates at a state party convention in the Lichtenberg district approved the step by an overwhelming majority; no exact vote count was initially given. The Greens and the SPD had already agreed last week. Three-way talks are due to begin Monday.
Lead candidate Elif Eralp received a standing ovation and chants of her first name. Referring to criticism of her in recent days, she said: “We will not let ourselves be ground down.” The Left came first in the Sept. 20 state election with 25.7%. If the alliance is formed, Eralp could become Berlin's governing mayor.
Delegates gave negotiators a list of demands, including no state money for military research and converting a Rheinmetall site to civilian production. A compromise to socialize some 160,000 apartments owned by large companies, with compensation, remains contentious. Outside the venue, critics from the left protested against joining a government.