Berlin’s Die Linke clears way for coalition talks with SPD and Greens

Berlin’s Die Linke has approved coalition talks with the Social Democrats and Greens, clearing the way for negotiations on a left-wing government in the German capital. The party’s members backed the move by a large majority at a congress on Saturday.

The Greens and SPD had already agreed to enter discussions. Die Linke won Berlin’s recent state election, ahead of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), while the Christian Democrats (CDU), led nationally by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, suffered heavy losses.

Die Linke leader Elif Eralp is a candidate to become Berlin’s first governing mayor from the party. The proposed three-party coalition has been a source of national controversy for weeks, including over allegations of antisemitism within Die Linke.

At the congress, Eralp said she remained determined to become mayor despite the opposition. “We won’t let ourselves be worn down, and I won’t give up,” she said, according to Der Spiegel.