Berlin’s left-wing Die Linke party is deciding today whether to enter coalition talks with the SPD and Greens to form a government in the capital.
The party’s state conference in Lichtenberg will vote on launching negotiations for a red-green-red coalition, with Spitzenkandidatin Elif Eralp under police protection amid threats and a toxic internal debate. Eralp, the party’s fractional chair and aspiring governing mayor, told RBB Inforadio she expected “a very, very large majority” to back the move, citing public demand for improved living conditions. She acknowledged a “very poisoned” debate around her person but said she trusted security assessments after a *Spiegel* report revealed her family’s safety concerns linked to a known Palestine activist.
The vote follows weeks of tension over antisemitism allegations within Die Linke’s ranks, particularly in the Neukölln district, and criticism of Eralp’s handling of Hamas sympathizers. The party’s federal co-leaders, Ines Schwerdtner and Luigi Pantisano, publicly backed Eralp and reaffirmed their coalition ambition, dismissing attacks as a smear campaign. A joint statement from senior figures, including Bundestag Vice President Bodo Ramelow and former leader Gregor Gysi, condemned the *Spiegel* report’s publication of Eralp’s private remarks as a “new low” and defended her professionalism.
Opposition within the party remains vocal. The Linksjugend Solid faction rejects the coalition, advocating instead for a “strong socialist opposition,” while protesters have announced a demonstration outside the venue against “voter betrayal” and for “consequential Palestine solidarity.” SPD and Greens have already approved the talks, with formal negotiations potentially starting Monday if Die Linke’s members agree.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz has opposed the coalition, warning the CDU’s partners against governing with what he calls “left radicals.” Eralp has pledged to act decisively against organized crime and groups glorifying violence if elected, though critics, including *Jüdische Allgemeine* editor Philipp Heymann-Engel, accuse her of capitulating to Islamist elements. The party’s federal leadership insists it will balance Palestine solidarity with clear boundaries, acknowledging past missteps in addressing antisemitism.
