Berlin’s Governing Mayor Kai Wegner (CDU) has expressed concern regarding a perceived shift in the political stance of the Berlin chapter of the Left Party. In an interview with “Welt” Wegner suggested the party is exhibiting a concerning trajectory characterized by increasingly radical elements and what he described as clear antisemitic tendencies.
Wegner stated that the Left Party in Berlin no longer represents the traditional voice of the eastern region of Germany and is now influenced by politicians possessing rigid ideological worldviews seeking to reshape the city according to their own prescriptions. He voiced alarm at this development and stressed the importance of preventing the party from assuming positions of responsibility.
Despite these reservations, Wegner acknowledged the necessity of dialogue across the political spectrum, particularly given the need for supermajority outcomes in the Bundestag. He emphasized that to avoid parliamentary deadlock, the ruling coalition must engage in discussions with both the Green Party and the Left Party.
However, Wegner firmly ruled out any possibility of discussions with the Alternative for Germany (AfD) and reiterated that engagement with the Left Party is not intended to facilitate deals but to foster communication. He explicitly affirmed his support for the CDU’s existing resolution prohibiting cooperation with both the Left Party and AfD.
The Mayor’s comments follow a recent demonstration in Berlin, initially banned and subsequently permitted by the Administrative Court, focusing on pro-Palestinian issues. In response, Wegner reiterated his call for reinstating the concept of “public order” into the capital’s assembly rights legislation. He argued against the possibility of demonstrations advocating for a caliphate, calls for the destruction of Israel, or actions that instill fear in Jewish communities.
“We require a legal basis to prevent such gatherings in the future” Wegner stated, advocating for the reinstatement of the “public order” provision within the assembly freedom law, which he noted had been removed by a previous governing coalition. He described this as a necessary step to restore order and address growing concerns.
Reports from Jewish students and parents are said to have highlighted fears regarding safety in educational settings, with instances of antisemitic language being used, prompting some families to withdraw their children from public schools. Wegner characterized this situation as intolerable, stating that his tolerance has its limits.
