Berlin Left Party Coalition Talks Stalled by Antisemitism Dispute

Die Linke's path to power in Berlin has been complicated by its stance on the Israel-Palestinian conflict following its historic election win last month. Party members will vote Saturday on whether to enter formal coalition talks with the centre-left SPD and Greens, which could make lead candidate Elif Eralp mayor.

The dispute centres on Berlin lawmaker Vanessa Emde, who won a direct mandate in Neukölln 1 on September 20 with 46.2 percent of first votes. Emde campaigned on Palestine solidarity and has repeatedly sparked debate with her critical positions on Israel.

“Die Linke should remain steadfast in the positions for which it was elected.”

On October 15, Emde repeated in an Instagram video that only people, not states, have a right to exist, and called the situation around her a "charade." She also criticised an antisemitism declaration she had signed two days earlier, which affirms Israel's right to exist.

The party leadership said it no longer sees a basis for cooperation with Emde, and sanctions including expulsion from the parliamentary group are possible. A planned meeting with her last week did not happen because she reported sick, but she later attended discussions with the leadership and the regular faction session.

Conservative Chancellor Friedrich Merz has voiced alarm over Die Linke's positions and urged the SPD to stop heading down this path. Some party members accused the leadership of betrayal after the potential allies signed a pledge rejecting antisemitism and pledging stronger police powers to protect Jewish life.

Supporters in Neukölln said they voted for the party out of solidarity with Palestine and urged it to remain steadfast. Eralp, a 45-year-old lawyer born to Turkish immigrants, campaigned mainly on ending Berlin's housing crisis through a controversial plan to expropriate corporate landlords' flats.