Berlin coalition talks begin with preliminary vetting on anti-Semitism and crime

Preliminary discussions in Berlin

Leaders from Die Linke, Alliance 90/The Greens, and the Social Democratic Party (SPD) will convene on Thursday at 11:00 for preliminary talks regarding the formation of a state government in Berlin. The meeting follows the state election held on 20 September 2026, which altered the balance in the Abgeordnetenhaus and dissolved the incumbent CDU and SPD majority. Die Linke won 25.7% of the vote, finishing ahead of the CDU at 18.8%, the AfD at 16.3%, the Greens at 14.3%, and the SPD at 12.1%. Instead of opening formal exploratory negotiations immediately, the three potential partners agreed to hold preliminary vetting talks to establish clear conditions on sensitive policy matters. Both the Greens and the SPD established these joint definitions as a strict condition before broader policy discussions can proceed.

Scrutiny over party associations

The preliminary talks will focus on anti-Semitism, combating racism, and confronting organized crime. The immediate push for formal safeguards stems from controversies surrounding an election party hosted by the Neukölln district chapter of Die Linke on 20 September 2026. Guests at that gathering included the head of an Arab family clan involved in organized crime, as well as a pro-Palestinian activist tied to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), an organization designated as a terrorist group by the European Union. Concerns over stances regarding Israel and anti-Semitism have led the Greens and the SPD to demand written commitments ensuring the protection of Jewish life both within Die Linke and inside any future coalition. In a joint statement released ahead of the discussions, the two prospective coalition partners established their shared baseline:

The agreement on this is a basic prerequisite for exploratory talks.

Negotiating teams and coalition prospects

Die Linke agreed to the prerequisite process and repeatedly asserted that its leadership stands firmly behind the protection of Jewish life. If the parties reach common ground during Thursday's session, which could extend into Friday, formal exploratory talks will begin next week. The parties have appointed small leadership delegations to conduct the meetings. Die Linke will be represented by parliamentary co-chairs Elif Eralp and Tobias Schulze, alongside party leaders Kerstin Wolter and Maximilian Schirmer. The Greens selected parliamentary group leaders Bettina Jarasch and Werner Graf together with state party chairs Nina Stahr and Philmon Ghirmai. The SPD delegation features state chairs Steffen Krach and Bettina König, accompanied by designated parliamentary co-leader Derya Caglar. If negotiations succeed, Eralp could become Berlin's first Governing Mayor from Die Linke.

Housing policy and policy friction

Beyond the preliminary agenda, the three parties face programmatic divides that will shape subsequent exploratory sessions, particularly concerning housing policy. Die Linke enters talks seeking the socialization of large housing corporations to transfer approximately 220,000 apartments into municipal ownership, enacting a 2021 referendum approved by Berlin voters. The Greens support the referendum's objective and intend to draft legislation to implement the measure. In contrast, SPD lead candidate Steffen Krach stated during the campaign that there will be no expropriations under his watch. Meanwhile, former SPD state leader and Neukölln district mayor Martin Hikel called for a binding vote among SPD party members before any formal coalition agreement is negotiated.