UPDATE 1 — Berlin coalition talks suspended over antisemitism deal concerns
(Updates with comment from Left in bullet 5) BERLIN, Oct 13 (Reuters) — Germany's Greens and centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) suspended exploratory talks on forming Berlin's next state government with the far-left Left Party on Tuesday to assess whether antisemitism measures agreed to last week still stand. The proposed measures would allow lawmakers accused of antisemitism to be expelled if a panel came to a consensus on the matter. If they disagreed, experts would be called in. The decision comes after the Left admitted lawmaker Vanessa Emde, who has sparked controversy over her stance on Israel, as part of the state of Berlin's new parliamentary group. "We expect the Left to clarify the extent to which they intend to take the agreements we made seriously and implement them," the two parties said in a joint statement after the Left held a constituent meeting. The Left, a hard-left party represented in Berlin by lead candidate Elif Eralp, emerged from the September 20 state election as the largest force, with 25.7% of the votes. Left leader Luigi Pantisano said he was confident that talks could continue, adding that all elected representatives had signed a declaration committing
(Updates with comment from Left in bullet 5) BERLIN, Oct 13 (Reuters) — Germany's Greens and centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) suspended exploratory talks on forming Berlin's next state government with the far-left Left Party on Tuesday to assess whether antisemitism measures agreed to last week still stand. The proposed measures would allow lawmakers accused of antisemitism to be expelled if a panel came to a consensus on the matter. If they disagreed, experts would be called in. The decision comes after the Left admitted lawmaker Vanessa Emde, who has sparked controversy over her stance on Israel, as part of the state of Berlin's new parliamentary group.
"We expect the Left to clarify the extent to which they intend to take the agreements we made seriously and implement them," the two parties said in a joint statement after the Left held a constituent meeting. 7% of the votes. Left leader Luigi Pantisano said he was confident that talks could continue, adding that all elected representatives had signed a declaration committing themselves to the fight against antisemitism at their meeting on Tuesday. Tensions over antisemitism and the Israel-Gaza conflict have become a major fault line in German politics, with the SPD and Greens insisting on binding safeguards before entering exploratory coalition talks with the Left.
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