Exploratory talks in Berlin: Back to the ground of realpolitik

Ever since the left's election victory in Berlin, one could get the impression that the city would soon be taken over by communists, Islamists and criminal clans. What was forgotten was that the Left has long been in power in Bremen and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, and in Thuringia and Saxony it even tolerates CDU-led state governments. The Federal Republic also survived a left-wing prime minister, Bodo Ramelow in Thuringia. But a city government in the capital led by the left is something different.

But gradually the excitement dies down. The Greens and the SPD are engaging in talks with election winner Elif Eralp in the capital and are heading towards a red-green-red alliance. In doing so, they return to the ground of realpolitik. The Union and the tabloid media should now also verbally disarm.

The accusations against the left did not come as a surprise, but they were surprisingly violent. They recalled the campaign against New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who was almost word for word accused of “communism,” “Islamism,” and “anti-Semitism.” Just on Friday, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, wanted for war crimes, stood before the UN General Assembly and claimed that because of Mamdani, Jews were no longer safe in New York. This is scaremongering.

The taz is an independent, left-wing and opinionated daily newspaper. We have been arguing in our comments, essays and debate texts since the taz was founded in 1979. We often cannot and do not want to agree on an opinion. That's why you'll find some completely opposing positions here - all part of the very broad left-wing spectrum of opinions.

In Berlin, the Left wants to expropriate large housing companies and criticizes German support for Israel's wars. That doesn't suit everyone. But now it's about dealing with things soberly and finding pragmatic solutions. On closer inspection, the party's much-lamented "anti-Semitism problem" shrinks, for example, to the appearance of a questionable rapper at the Neukölln district association - and to a few activists who said questionable things there or are said to be close to questionable organizations.

The Greens are therefore demanding that the Left should draw personal conclusions. However, party exclusion procedures are lengthy and, above all, symbolic; they cause bad blood and do not convince anyone. A resolution of incompatibility with questionable organizations would be better - and even better would be constructive measures so that Jews can feel safe in Berlin.

The hurdles are even greater when it comes to the question of socialization and expropriation. Because it's about tangible economic interests and a lot of money. Finding a compromise here could probably be the biggest challenge for a red-green-red coalition.