723 Social Democrats Against Their Own Party: Berlin's New Coalition Begins With a Revolt

Before a single sentence of a coalition agreement has even been written in Berlin, 723 Social Democrats are demanding that negotiations with the Left Party fail. Among those who signed are Sigmar Gabriel and Christine Lambrecht, along with Karl Lauterbach and Franziska Giffey. Former cabinet ministers are openly challenging the political direction of their own party. On November 2, the SPD and the Greens are scheduled to officially begin talks with the Left Party about forming a new state government. The evening before, an open letter is already on the table, with a title that reads like a warning: "Not at Any Price."

By Sunday morning, 300 Social Democrats had signed. Then the number kept climbing. By early afternoon, it had reached 598, and by 12:40 p.m. Berlin time, the total stood at 723. Members of the Bundestag and former senior government officials also joined in. Their message is aimed squarely at Berlin's SPD leadership: A coalition with the city's Left Party would be irresponsible under the current circumstances. The signatories explicitly accept the election results. That makes their opposition all the more significant. Their party has a chance to help govern. A substantial number of its own members are now demanding that it walk away from that opportunity.

At the center of the controversy are allegations of antisemitism and connections between individual Left Party politicians and people associated with organized crime. Ferat Koçak, the Bundestag member from Berlin's Neukölln district, is alleged to have exchanged friendly messages with Firas Remmo, the convicted son of Issa Remmo. The family has been linked to Berlin's criminal clan networks. Members of families associated with those networks were also reportedly present at a Left Party election celebration in Neukölln. The letter describes such contacts as incompatible with the SPD's commitment to public safety. Knowing someone, however, doesn't automatically mean you've committed a crime. With accusations like these, it's especially important to distinguish carefully between what has actually been documented and the political conclusions drawn from it.

Elif Eralp, the Berlin Left Party's leading candidate for governing mayor, added further fuel to the controversy. In internal notes attached to an interview, she expressed concerns about her own safety and that of her family. Those concerns involved people around her party who have been accused of having ties to Hamas sympathizers. The notes apparently reached the newsroom by mistake. Eralp later said she was following the advice of security authorities and would not allow anyone to intimidate her. She also pointed to threats she had received since the election. It's understandable that a politician would want to protect her family. But the fact that she perceives such dangers within the circles surrounding a potential governing party raises some uncomfortable questions about how that government could work together.

Political scientist Wolfgang Schroeder believes the controversy has seriously damaged the prospects for a stable coalition. Dmitri Stratiewski of the Berlin Center for East European Studies also questions, according to the report, whether a government led by a mayor who fears parts of her own political circle could effectively run Berlin. Eralp continues to receive support from her party and the Greens. Still, there's no easy way around the question of how credibly a future state government could confront extremist networks.

The open letter is directed specifically at the current state of the Left Party's Berlin organization. Its authors aren't opposed to coalitions with the party in general. They even cite the cooperation under Minister-President Manuela Schwesig in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania as a positive example. That distinction hits Berlin's Left Party where it hurts: Its ability to govern is being questioned by Social Democrats who are perfectly willing to work with the Left Party elsewhere.

Then there are conflicts that go far beyond individual politicians. The signatories criticize the proposed fiscal policies and question whether Berlin can afford the planned spending. They consider the possible public takeover of privately owned housing, with compensation payments of up to 16 billion euros, particularly dangerous. Plans to terminate a cooperation agreement with the German armed forces have also met resistance. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has reportedly warned against sending such a message from Berlin. These are issues a coalition would have to negotiate, even though its potential partners already disagree over fundamental questions of government responsibility.

The SPD has nevertheless agreed to talks. Its state executive voted in favor on October 19, and the Left Party also approved the start of negotiations on October 31. SPD members are expected to vote on any eventual coalition agreement. Having a majority at the negotiating table, then, is a long way from having a majority within the party.

Berlin is both Germany's capital and a federal state. Its government has to make decisions that attract attention far beyond the city limits. Gabriel and the other signatories are demanding that the party choose opposition over joining this coalition if necessary. On Monday, the search for a government begins. Even before the first day of negotiations, it's clear that some Social Democrats would rather stay outside than open that door.