Steffen Krach, the SPD top candidate in Berlin, has made clear that his backing for a potential coalition agreement with the Left Party is conditional on how the consequences surrounding the Linke parliamentary member Vanessa Emde are resolved. Krach told the “Welt am Sonntag” that if these issues are not clarified before the mandatory SPD membership vote scheduled for January, he could not recommend that his party approve the coalition contract. Clear resolution is necessary prior to this internal vote.
Krach criticized the delay in deciding on disciplinary action against Emde, stating that the process is taking too long. He expressed regret that this decision had not been made much sooner, noting that every day of this procrastination negatively impacts cooperative relations.
Looking ahead, Krach vowed that should a government be formed, he intends to act decisively against organized crime. He asserted that this crime must be combated as consistently as any previous coalition, emphasizing that citizens-whether residents, visitors, or the governing mayor-should not live in fear of organized crime in Berlin.
Furthermore, Krach stressed that he takes seriously the concerns of Jewish Berliners regarding the possibility of governmental participation by the Left Party. While any agreement struck between the SPD, the Greens, and the Linke for the protection of Jewish life serves as a starting point, Krach insisted that concrete actions must follow what is merely on paper. He demanded that the leadership of the Linke put this theoretical agreement into practical effect.
Krach acknowledged the growing reservations within the SPD about forming a coalition with the Linke, though he dismissed signature campaigns organized by other state branches as unhelpful. He stated that the Berlin SPD has established clear boundaries for the coalition negotiations, and the coming weeks will determine if a coalition can be achieved.
Finally, should the SPD membership vote reject a coalition agreement that he has recommended, Krach has not ruled out political consequences. He stated he is prepared for the resulting debates. He added that given the poor election result of twelve percent, the Berlin SPD ultimately requires a complete restructuring. “We must become the Berlin party that we once were,” he concluded.
