In Berlin, the signs are black and red: the SPD state executive decided to start coalition negotiations with the CDU, and the CDU state executive voted unanimously for such talks. Election winner Kai Wegner is striving for a speedy agreement: “We have set ourselves a very tight time frame. We said we want to be finished in four weeks,” he said on the “Welt” television channel.
If both parties come together, Governing Mayor Franziska Giffey would have to leave the Rotes Rathaus, which she only moved into in December 2021. However, she is available for a post as a senator in the new state government. In an interview with the German Press Agency, the SPD state chairman explains how things will continue.
Don’t you see the danger that the SPD, as a junior partner, will continue to lose approval?
You always have to weigh up the alternatives. The likelihood that we’ll be even worse off in the next election because people say they’re just going to carry on – that’s a big risk. The other side is that the Greens negotiated with the CDU and that was also a real option for them. If we had gone in the red-green-red direction, I’m pretty sure we would have gotten black-green. The CDU was very flexible towards us, but also towards the Greens. And that, in my view, would be the worst position for the SPD if we were to watch the black-green government in the opposition.
Why should there be a member decision on the coalition agreement?
We had a very honest debate in the state executive on Wednesday, and two-thirds voted to start coalition negotiations with the CDU. I would also estimate the mood in the entire party about the same. We have members who are now very strongly opposed to such an alliance and are also very vocal. But there is also very, very much feedback from the party saying that this is a correct and also a courageous step. That’s why we decided that there should be a member vote in order to include as many members as possible. You need to plan some time for this. But I also think that’s the right thing to do when it comes to such a serious decision.
Would black and red be a step backwards for Berlin?
Our task will be to prove that this alliance is a progressive coalition. And that we manage to focus in particular on the topics of social justice, climate protection, economic development and a diverse city. This alliance will also have the task of doing everything possible to ensure that Berlin continues to be a pioneer when it comes to climate neutrality, just as it does when it comes to housing construction. This alliance must stand for innovation, drive, pragmatism and solution orientation and, above all, for closeness to the people.
