SPD Demands Expulsion of Antisemitic Members from Berlin Left Party Amid Coalition Talks

The Left secured 25.7 percent of the vote in the Berlin Abgeordnetenhaus election, emerging as the strongest force. The Social Democratic Party (SPD) placed fifth with 12.1 percent. After the parliamentary group formed, members signed a declaration committing to fight antisemitism and protect Israel's right to exist. Vanessa Emde, a member of the Berlin House of Representatives, later distanced herself from the document in an Instagram video. SPD leaders subsequently called for the exclusion of certain Berlin politicians from The Left, citing ongoing concerns regarding antisemitism.

Tensions rose after Emde spoke at a pro-Palestine demonstration in May 2026. She questioned the existence of states and specifically referred to Israel. These remarks drew criticism and sparked a debate about party standards and member conduct. The tension persisted throughout the year. It prompted calls for exclusion after the Berlin Abgeordnetenhaus election on September 20, 2026.

1. On November 4, 2026, SPD federal chairman Lars Klingbeil called for the Berlin Left party to expel members with antisemitic views or ties to criminal clan structures. He stated that the party must remove these individuals.

2. Berlin SPD leader Steffen Krach confirmed on November 4, 2026, that he would not work with Vanessa Emde. He warned that the SPD would refuse to form a coalition if she remained in the parliamentary group. He said there would be no coalition if she remained in the parliamentary group.

3. About 1,500 members of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) signed an open letter titled "Not at any price" to oppose a coalition with The Left party. The letter signals internal resistance to the partnership.

4. On November 3, 2026, the SPD and the Greens rejected an invitation from Berlin CDU leader Stefan Evers to discuss alternative government formation. The parties confirmed their commitment to ongoing coalition negotiations with The Left. The Left, the Greens, and the SPD in Berlin plan to conclude coalition negotiations by January 2027.

5. The Left party secured 25.7% of the vote in the Berlin House of Representatives election on September 20, 2026.

1. The Berlin parliamentary board of The Left met on November 3, 2026, to discuss the case of Vanessa Emde. The board reached no decision regarding her status. Internal divisions continue to affect the party.

2. The coalition negotiations between The Left, the Greens, and the SPD are currently overshadowed by the controversy surrounding Emde's past comments and her subsequent distancing from a parliamentary declaration against antisemitism.

3. The political situation in Berlin is being compared to Sachsen-Anhalt, where AfD candidate Ulrich Siegmund could be elected Minister President in December 2026.

4. Vanessa Emde expressed solidarity with Ibrahim Ibrahim, a member of The Left in Neukölln, and activist Ramsis Kilani. The Left expelled Kilani for terror-glorifying statements, according to Spiegel.

5. Vanessa Emde stated that states do not have a right to exist during a pro-Palestine demonstration in May 2026. She advocated for a democratic one-state solution to replace Israel. Emde later distanced herself from a parliamentary declaration against antisemitism in an Instagram video.