Berlin Greens eye coalition with Left and SPD despite anti-Semitism concerns

In Berlin’s recent state election, the Left emerged as the leading party, pushing the incumbent CDU-SPD coalition out of power. The Berlin Greens, under Werner Graf, have declared their intention to join a red-green-red coalition with the Left and SPD, a move endorsed by state leaders Nina Stahr and Philmon Ghirmai. This strategy puts the Berlin Greens at odds with the federal Green leadership, where Franziska Brantner and Felix Banaszak have explicitly ruled out any government dependent on anti-Semitic figures, especially those linked to Neukölln.

Critics within the Greens, including former MP Volker Beck and ex-state minister Kerstin Müller, have warned that aligning with the radical Left could damage the party’s broader appeal. Graf’s campaign emphasized cooperation with Left candidate Elif Eralp, while downplaying internal disputes over antisemitism. The outcome will determine whether Berlin sees its first coalition that includes parties accused of harboring extremist views since 1945.