Frankfurt (Germany), Oct. 17 (LaPresse) – Die Linke, the Greens and the SPD have reached an agreement in exploratory talks to form Berlin’s new government. Bild reports this, citing party sources. The three parties have announced a joint press conference for 5 p.m. to present the agreed document and outline the next steps. The agreement, reached despite differences that emerged during the negotiations, must now be approved by the governing bodies of the three parties before formal coalition talks begin, potentially in early November. One of the main points of contention concerned antisemitism and recognition of Israel’s right to exist. According to Bild, the text agreed upon by the three parties on this issue is expected to be included in the future coalition agreement. The issue had caused tensions and a temporary suspension of talks, partly because of the positions taken by Die Linke MP Vanessa Emde, from whom the parliamentary group’s leadership has distanced itself. A compromise has reportedly also been reached on the socialization of the property assets of large companies: according to Tagesspiegel and Berliner Morgenpost, the measure would apply to companies owning more than 10,000 apartments, compared with the threshold of 3,000 set by the 2021 referendum. More than 150,000 homes could be affected. The agreement comes despite harsh criticism from Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who today, speaking at the CDU youth congress, urged the SPD and the Greens to abandon their alliance with Die Linke. “Do you really and seriously want to continue coalition talks with a party like that?” Merz asked, arguing that the Social Democrats should not “conduct negotiations with these far-left radicals, let alone enter into a coalition with them.” In the September 20 election, Die Linke emerged as the largest party with 25.7% of the vote, followed by the CDU (18.8%), AfD (16.3%), the Greens (14.3%) and the SPD (12.1%). A coalition between Die Link
Germany: Linke, Greens and SPD reach agreement on coalition government in Berlin
Frankfurt (Germany), Oct. 17 (LaPresse) – Die Linke, the Greens and the SPD have reached an agreement in exploratory talks to form Berlin’s new government. Bild reports this, citing party sources. The three parties have announced a joint press conference for 5 p.m. to present the agreed document and outline the next steps. The agreement, reached despite differences that emerged during the negotiations, must now be approved by the governing bodies of the three parties before formal coalition talks begin, potentially in early November. One of the main points of contention concerned antisemitism and recognition of Israel’s right to exist. According to Bild, the text agreed upon by the three parties on this issue is expected to be included in the future coalition agreement. The issue had caused tensions and a temporary suspension of talks, partly because of the positions taken by Die Linke MP Vanessa Emde, from whom the parliamentary group’s leadership has distanced itself. A compromise has reportedly also been reached on the socialization of the property assets of large companies: according to Tagesspiegel and Berliner Morgenpost, the measure would apply to companies owning more than 10,000 apartments, compared with the threshold of 3,000 set by the 2021 referendum. More than 150,000 homes could be affected. The agreement comes despite harsh criticism from Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who today, speaking at the CDU youth congress, urged the SPD and the Greens to abandon their alliance with Die Linke. “Do you really and seriously want to continue coalition talks with a party like that?” Merz asked, arguing that the Social Democrats should not “conduct negotiations with these far-left radicals, let alone enter into a coalition with them.” In the September 20 election, Die Linke emerged as the largest party with 25.7% of the vote, followed by the CDU (18.8%), AfD (16.3%), the Greens (14.3%) and the SPD (12.1%). A coalition between Die Link