Berlin's Left Party Votes Yes to Red-Green-Red Coalition Talks

On Saturday, 31 October 2026, Die Linke held a party congress in Berlin and voted with a clear majority to open formal coalition negotiations with the Greens and SPD. Top candidate Elif Eralp, who travelled to the congress under personal security protection, campaigned strongly for the move and told delegates the party had "decided what it's really about." She also said she would not be intimidated, responding directly to a Spiegel report about her. Schirmer mounted a sharp attack on the Spiegel and internal critics, while delegate Wolter warned that anyone glorifying terrorism had "no place" in Die Linke.

Outside the hall, Left MP Vanessa Emde broke with the party leadership and joined demonstrators opposing the coalition plans. "Shame on You" chants were directed at Eralp outside the congress, and both the Linksjugend and the Kreisverband Mitte withheld applause during the proceedings. Federal chair Ines Schwerdtner publicly criticised Emde's stance.

Among senior SPD figures, concern was raised that the coalition could harm the party in upcoming state elections, while Steffen Krach stepped up to defend Eralp. The SPD executive also decided to put any final coalition agreement to a full membership vote. Formal three-party talks are scheduled to begin on Monday.