Dispute over Berlin left-wing MPs: Emde sidelined, please

T he showdown over the Berlin left-wing MP Vanessa Emde, who has now become absurdly well-known nationwide, has once again failed to materialize. Three thin sentences, that's all their parliamentary group in the state parliament had to say on Tuesday evening after hours of deliberations: The Left parliamentary group executive committee exchanged ideas with Emde, there is still no "common working basis" seen, the committees will now continue to discuss. And presumably there will be further advice after the consultation. And advise again.

The fact that the left-wing committees are now pondering, among other things, whether they should call on Emde to return their mandate seems a useless undertaking. Why should Emde, which won a direct mandate with almost 50 percent in Berlin-Neukölln, comply with this request? Why should she throw herself out of the state parliament for a party that she obviously doesn't care about anyway?

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.

Another way would be better: the leaders of the Berlin left faction are pushing Vanessa Emde onto the parliamentary sidelines. That means: no committee, no speaking time in plenary, no speaker function. Not only would public interest in an individual MP eventually wane. Even a possible red-green-red state government would no longer be in permanent danger of implosion. Ideally, the Palestine activist sooner or later throws in the towel, leaves the faction - and that's it.