Berlin SPD ahead of red-green-red: Giffey opts out, Krach demands clarity from Eralp
Franziska Giffey will not take part in the coalition talks. Berlin SPD leader Krach wants Eralp to publicly distance herself from extremists and organized crime.
Photo: Leonhard Lenz / Wikimedia Commons, CC0 (cropped and resized)
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Ahead of a possible start of coalition talks with the Left and the Greens, there are reservations within Berlin's SPD. Former governing mayor Franziska Giffey will not take part in the negotiations and, according to the Tagesspiegel, cites "very fundamental points of criticism" of the alliance. Neukölln district mayor Martin Hikel (SPD) says he can "hardly imagine how this is supposed to continue".
Berlin SPD leader Steffen Krach defended the Left's candidate Elif Eralp after a Spiegel report on her fears of Hamas supporters in the orbit of Berlin's Left party. But he demanded that she publicly take a clear stand against extremists and organized crime, "because it is about Berlin's security." More than 100 Left politicians have rallied behind Eralp.
CDU politician Thorsten Frei urged the SPD and the Greens to break off the coalition talks. According to the Tagesspiegel, the SPD wants its members to vote on any coalition agreement. Negotiations are due to begin on Monday if the Left approves them at its party conference on Saturday.