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Berlin Coalition Talks Resume After Antisemitism Declaration Agreement
Berlin, October 15, 2026 – Coalition negotiations between the Social Democratic Party (SPD), Alliance 90/The Greens, and The Left party have resumed today, following a one-day suspension caused by disagreements over a joint declaration on combating antisemitism. All three parties have now reached an understanding, agreeing to include the controversial declaration in any potential future coalition agreement.
The talks, aimed at forming a red-green-red coalition government in Berlin, were halted on Wednesday after SPD and Green negotiators expressed concerns regarding The Left party’s commitment to a previously agreed-upon statement on antisemitism. The interruption was described by Green faction leader Bettina Jarasch as a “healing jolt” that brought more clarity and trust to the process.
Agreement Reached on Antisemitism Declaration
According to Elif Eralp, parliamentary group leader for The Left, the parties met on Wednesday and held a “good and open discussion,” resolving previous misunderstandings. “We have agreed that the declaration will be included in the coalition agreement should a government be formed,” Eralp stated.
Steffen Krach, SPD faction leader and lead negotiator, defended the decision to resume talks. In an interview with radioeins from rbb, Krach emphasized that it was better for disagreements to surface during the exploratory talks than later in government. He confirmed that the joint declaration on antisemitism, agreed upon by all three parties, would be adopted “exactly as is into the coalition agreement.” Krach stressed the importance of reliability and trust in the negotiation process.
Previous Disagreements and Clarifications
The interruption stemmed from The Left’s parliamentary group drafting its own declaration for its members before its constitutive meeting on Tuesday. This internal document did not explicitly include all points from the joint declaration with the SPD and Greens, particularly concerning the strengthening of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution in the fight against antisemitism and the rejection of the Israel-critical BDS movement. This omission led to significant irritation among the SPD and Greens.
Krach confirmed that these issues were discussed and resolved during Wednesday evening’s meeting. The temporary halt in negotiations had also led to internal criticism within the SPD and Green parties regarding their leadership’s handling of the situation.
Controversy Surrounding Left-Wing MP Vanessa Emde
Another point of contention has been the newly elected Left party MP, Vanessa Emde. Emde, from the Neukölln district, has been a vocal advocate for Palestine solidarity and has sparked multiple debates due to her critical stance on Israel. Although she eventually signed the Left parliamentary group’s declaration after extensive discussions and is now part of the faction, her inclusion had been a concern for the SPD and Greens, who had reportedly assumed she would not join the group due to her past statements.
The Greens have not yet clarified what implications Emde’s membership in The Left’s parliamentary group will have on the ongoing coalition talks.
CDU Offers Alternative Coalition Talks
Amidst the stalled negotiations, CDU top candidate Stefan Evers offered the SPD and Greens talks about an alternative alliance. Evers stated that the CDU was ready but did not want to impose itself, acknowledging that The Left party was clearly the strongest force in the election.
Background to the Interruption
The decision to suspend talks was made by the SPD and Greens on Tuesday evening, following the constitutive meeting of The Left’s parliamentary group. They stated that they needed to evaluate a declaration on dealing with antisemitism that was signed by all members of The Left’s parliamentary group.
Parts of Berlin’s Left party have frequently faced criticism for their positions on Israel, Palestine, and antisemitism. For instance, a controversial pro-Palestinian activist, reportedly close to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), which is classified as a terrorist organization by the EU, was present at an election party for The Left in Neukölln on September 20.
The resumption of talks indicates a renewed effort to form a stable governing coalition in Berlin, with the agreement on the antisemitism declaration being a crucial step forward.
Source: https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/regional/berlin/fortsetzung-sondierungen-berlin-100.html
