Left party backs SPD-Greens coalition deal in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Left party approves the agreement

The Left party in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern became the first party to approve the coalition agreement negotiated with the SPD and the Greens. Its state party conference in Güstrow began at 17:00 on Friday, 13 November, and reached its decision at 20:30 after a general debate. A large majority of the 84 delegates voted in favour, with no votes against and seven abstentions, according to Bundestag member Ina Latendorf, who announced the result after the vote.

Criticism during the debate

The debate was not without dissent. Critics raised objections to the Left giving up the education ministry and the post of gender equality commissioner under the deal. The party nonetheless gave the agreement a clear majority, and the vote closed the Left's part of the process.

Remaining votes and signing

The SPD and the Greens still have to approve the agreement at separate state party conferences. Both are scheduled to vote on Saturday, 14 November, the SPD in Güstrow and the Greens in Stralsund. If the members of all three parties endorse the paper, the contract will be signed that Saturday evening at the Pommersches Landesmuseum in Greifswald. The negotiations and exploratory talks lasted a little over six weeks, and according to stern.de the paper was drafted after the state election of 20 September without conflicts becoming public.

Seat numbers and next steps

The designated red-red-green coalition holds 39 seats, while the AfD is the only opposition party with 32 mandates. Manuela Schwesig (SPD) will stand for re-election as minister-president in the state parliament on Monday, 16 November. The state's politics are moving considerably faster than in Berlin and Saxony-Anhalt, which also voted in September but have no governments in sight.

Designated red-red-green coalition39

AfD (sole opposition party)32

Designated red-red-green coalition

39 seats

AfD (sole opposition party)

32 seats

Data from the article text