SPD group leader Matthias Miersch has demanded that Die Linke take credible steps to distance itself from antisemitism, stating that this is a crucial prerequisite for the SPD in making a decision regarding a possible coalition participation in Berlin. Speaking on the news program “Hard Talk mit Gordon Repinski” on the Welt channel, Miersch added that the Left party will likely implement measures, hoping they achieve credible separation.
He stressed that “many, many things will have to be clarified,” and noted that the veracity of these claims will be assessed by the actions taken moving forward-a task he placed entirely on Die Linke. The SPD politician pointed to the behavior of several Die Linke members in the Bundestag when discussing the problem of separating themselves from antisemitism, warning that “a great deal of credibility is at stake.”
Regarding Elif Eralp, the Left’s top candidate for Governing Mayor, Miersch kept his options open, saying, “I certainly cannot rule it out at this moment.” However, he made it clear that this decision is not his own; rather, it belongs to the Berlin SPD.
Miersch explicitly refused to offer any advice to the Berlin SPD, stating, “No, I won’t measure myself against that.” Furthermore, he maintained a cautious stance on whether the Berlin SPD could tolerate a government led by Die Linke, saying, “I can imagine everything at the moment, and I cannot exclude anything.” He concluded by expressing confidence that their colleagues in Berlin would “weigh the situation very, very carefully.”
