Left Party win in Berlin triggers coalition crisis and antisemitism warnings
The Left Party (Die Linke) won the Berlin state election with nearly 26% of the vote, triggering a political crisis. Israeli Ambassador Ron Prosor warned of an "immediate existential threat" to Jewish life in Berlin due to the party's antisemitism. Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced plans to ban expropriation, while the SPD shifted focus to cost-of-living issues. The Left Party invited the SPD and Greens to preliminary talks, facing demands to distance itself from antisemites.
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Panic over Left Party: Three decades of red scare after Berlin election victory
Following the Berlin state election where the Left Party (Die Linke) won nearly 26% of the vote, conservative politicians are pressuring the Greens and SPD to avoid forming a coalition with the Left. Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned about rising antisemitism in Berlin, implicitly urging a coalition ban. Bavarian premier Markus Söder threatened to cancel the state financial equalization scheme if a Left-led government forms. Former SPD leader Sigmar Gabriel accused the Left of fishing for votes among antisemites and Islamists. The article traces historical precedents, including the CDU's 1994 'Red Socks' campaign against a PDS-tolerated government and the 2001-2002 controversy over Berlin's first red-red coalition under Klaus Wowereit, which ultimately proved pragmatic. The current debate adds new accusations of antisemitism and proximity to Islamism, citing a party event attended by a suspected organized crime figure and a PFLP-affiliated activist. The author notes parallels to US attacks on New York politician Zohran Mamdani. The Left has invited coalition partners to exploratory talks, with the Greens maintaining openness.
Read sourceSurgeon Says He Will Leave Berlin Over Left Party Win; Merz Pushes Expropriation Ban
This live ticker from Die Welt covers the aftermath of recent state elections in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, where the Left Party (Die Linke) achieved a significant victory. Key developments include: a viral video of Berlin-based Iranian surgeon Masyar Rahmanzadeh, who announced he would leave the city due to the Left Party's 'aura' that he claims promotes 'the stupid, the incapable, and the lazy'; Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) planning to advance a law banning expropriation following the Left's win; the SPD focusing its policy agenda on the cost of living, including a fuel price cap and pension reforms; warnings from Green politician Cem Özdemir and the German-Israeli Society against a coalition with the Left Party over antisemitism concerns; and the Left Party inviting the SPD and Greens to preliminary talks for government formation. The ticker also notes the final election result for Saxony-Anhalt and the strong performance of the AfD in a polling station located in a Berlin mosque.
Read sourceSPD Adopts Sharp Tone in New Policy Paper, Focuses on Cost of Living After State Elections
Following the recent state elections in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Berlin, where the CDU failed to enter one state parliament and the Left party won in Berlin, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz faces mounting pressure. The SPD has released a new policy paper, stating it harbors 'no illusions' and will focus on the affordability of living, including proposals for a fuel price cap and relief on care costs. The paper affirms the SPD's commitment to the governing coalition but calls for change. Meanwhile, the Left party in Berlin has invited the SPD and Greens to preliminary talks for government formation. This has sparked warnings from Green politician Cem Özdemir and the Deutsch-Israelische Gesellschaft against a coalition with the Left unless it clearly distances itself from antisemitism. In a separate development, the AfD became the strongest party in a Berlin polling station located in a mosque, receiving 34.4% of the vote. The mosque's Imam expressed disappointment but cautioned against drawing direct conclusions about voters' attitudes toward Muslims.
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AfD wins 34.4% in Berlin mosque polling station; Merz faces pressure after state elections
Following state elections in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz faces mounting pressure after the Left party won the Berlin vote and the CDU failed to enter a state parliament for the first time. Merz announced plans to advance a law banning the expropriation of housing companies, drawing sharp criticism from the Left party, whose parliamentary group leader Sören Pellmann accused him of stabbing tenants in the back. In Berlin, the AfD became the strongest party in a polling station located in the Khadija Mosque in Pankow, receiving 34.4% of the second votes. Imam Scharjil Khalid expressed disappointment, saying it felt like years of neighborhood work had not reached some people, but cautioned against assuming voters' motives. The Israeli ambassador to Germany, Ron Prosor, warned that the Left party's victory poses an 'immediate existential threat' to Berlin's Jewish community due to what he called deep-rooted antisemitism within the party. The Greens' youth wing called for a coalition with the Left party, while senior Greens demanded the Left distance itself from antisemites and clarify its stance on Israel.
Read sourceAfD wins most votes in Berlin mosque polling station; Merz faces pressure after state elections
Following state elections in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz faces mounting pressure after the CDU failed to enter one state parliament and lost ground in Berlin. The Left party won the Berlin election, prompting Merz to announce plans for a law banning expropriation of housing companies. Left party leader Sören Pellmann accused Merz of stabbing tenants in the back. In a notable development, the far-right AfD became the strongest party in a Berlin polling station located in the Khadija Mosque in Pankow, receiving 34.4% of the vote. The mosque's Imam expressed disappointment but cautioned against assuming voters' motives. Israel's ambassador Ron Prosor warned of an 'immediate existential threat' to Berlin's Jewish community due to what he called deep-rooted antisemitism in the Left party. Meanwhile, the Greens' youth wing called for a coalition with the Left, while senior Greens demanded the Left distance itself from antisemites and clan criminals. The CDU's Hendrik Wüst was asked about his chancellor ambitions amid speculation.
Read sourceIsraeli Ambassador Warns of 'Immediate Existential Threat' to Jewish Life in Berlin After Left Party Win
This article from Die Welt, published on September 22, 2026, covers the aftermath of state elections in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The Israeli ambassador to Germany, Ron Prosor, issued a stark warning following the Left Party's (Die Linke) victory in the Berlin election. He described the party's antisemitism as 'completely uninhibited' and 'deeply rooted,' stating that its rise to the strongest political force creates a 'concrete and immediate existential danger' for the Jewish community in Berlin. Prosor demanded the Left Party present a concrete plan to combat antisemitism within its ranks. The article also reports on other political developments, including Chancellor Friedrich Merz's announcement of reforms to the private health insurance system, the Green Party's youth wing advocating for a coalition with the Left Party in Berlin, and NRW Minister-President Hendrik Wüst deflecting questions about his potential candidacy for Chancellor. The CDU failed to enter the parliament in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, while the AfD won that state election.
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