Germany’s Central Council of Jews opposes Left Party-led government in Berlin — Anadolu Agency
Josef Schuster, president of Germany’s Central Council of Jews, spoke out against the formation of a state government in Berlin led by the Left Party and called on other political forces not to begin coalition talks with it. Anadolu Agency reports.
Accusations and the party’s response
Schuster said he was concerned by the Left Party’s solidarity with pro-Palestinian demonstrators protesting against the Israeli government. He accused the party of antisemitic statements during the election campaign and said that joining a coalition led by the Left Party would mean contributing to the normalization of hatred against Jews.
Representatives of the Left Party repeatedly and categorically denied these accusations. Its lead candidate, Elif Eralp, supported Berlin’s Palestinian community during the campaign and sharply condemned what she called war crimes by the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Gaza. She also promised to end repressive police measures against peaceful pro-Palestinian protests in the capital.
According to Eralp, the party leadership distanced itself from several isolated incidents. She noted that the Left Party opposes all forms of racism and that she herself has participated in projects aimed at combating antisemitism. The candidate also stressed that the party supports the protection of Jewish, Muslim and Palestinian life.
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Election and coalition projections
According to the latest projection by German public broadcaster ARD, the Left Party could come first in the Berlin state parliament election with 25.3%. This was more than twice its 12.2% result in the 2023 election. Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s Christian Democratic Union had 19%, Alternative for Germany had 16.3%, the Greens had 14.4%, and the Social Democratic Party of Germany had 12.1%.
To form a government, the Left Party needed at least two partners, as it did not win an absolute majority. The source described a coalition with the SPD and the Greens as the most realistic option. The distribution of seats also depended on whether the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance, which had 4.8% in the projection, would clear the 5% threshold.
If the Left Party fails to reach an agreement with the SPD and the Greens, the CDU, which came second, could form a coalition with these two parties. Such an option would be possible provided that the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance does not enter the state parliament.
