Ex-Bundestag President Thierse Calls for Independent Mayor and Warns Against Left Alliance in Berlin

Wolfgang Thierse, former Bundestag president and longtime SPD figure, has publicly urged Berlin's Social Democrats to reject a coalition with Die Linke and consider a different path to government. Speaking to the Süddeutsche Zeitung, Thierse recommended a so-called Kenya coalition of CDU, Greens, and SPD, but with an independent personality rather than a CDU politician serving as Governing Mayor. "The SPD should open itself to the idea of whether a Kenya coalition can be formed — perhaps without a CDU mayor, but with a different personality," he said.

Thierse described parts of Die Linke as unfit to govern, pointing to the party's stance on Israel and its plans to socialise large housing companies. He said he found it "almost shameful" how Berlin's SPD leadership has behaved, adding that the party appears to be "in a great hurry to submit to Die Linke as quickly as possible."

Should a red-green-red coalition agreement nonetheless be reached, Thierse insisted a membership vote within the SPD would be essential. "It would be absurd if Die Linke holds a member vote, the Greens too, and of all parties the SPD does not," he said.

In Berlin's 20 September election, Die Linke came first with 25.7 percent. The CDU received 18.8 percent, the AfD 16.3 percent, the Greens 14.3 percent, and the SPD a historically poor 12.1 percent. The outgoing CDU-SPD coalition has lost its majority, and following the successful conclusion of exploratory talks, efforts are now under way to form a red-green-red government.