Berlin’s SPD head of state, Raed Saleh, still believes that the members’ vote on the coalition agreement with the CDU is correct. “It’s a good thing that the members’ vote politicizes. Party means thinking about what the right way is,” Saleh told the German Press Agency. “Why are we together in our party? So that people can participate, so that they can form an opinion, so that such important decisions can also be made for those who support and live the party.”
Membership voting started on April 4th. There have been many discussions within the Berlin SPD over the past few weeks about whether a black-red coalition is the best alternative, and there have also been repeated attacks and insults on social media by opponents or supporters of cooperation with the CDU.
“I can only say to those who behave badly on social media, who insult others: not like that! We will not accept that, it is not our culture of discussion, we strictly reject it,” said the state and parliamentary group leader. In the large mass, however, he experiences a very good and fair process.
Saleh wants to involve party members more in the future
There is a good, very open discussion about the coalition agreement. “I see that the forums, the party’s department meetings, the formats that are offered in the district associations, are well received.” The SPD members are grateful that the question of how to proceed is broad in the party discussed and decided.
“Other parties decide something like that in small circles or at party conferences.” The Berlin SPD gave the decision to the base for a vote. “And I think that’s right.” The SPD at federal and state level have had good experiences with it. Saleh advocated continuing along this path and intensifying the involvement of members in decision-making.
The SPD head of state is one of the prominent advocates of black-red cooperation. “The proposal to form a coalition with the CDU is not met with euphoria in the SPD,” he admitted. “But we believe that in the current situation it is the sensible way, the best for Berlin.”
Jusos see a tendency towards rejection
From the point of view of the Berlin Jusos, the continuation of the previous government coalition is still the first choice, but the opposition is also more attractive than a black-red alliance.
If it turns out in the new situation that we cannot get together, then the SPD must not shy away from the opposition.
Sinem Tasan-Funke, Juso state chairman
“If the majority votes against the coalition agreement, we expect that we will sit down again with the Greens and the Left,” said Sinem Tasan-Funke, the Juso state chairman of the German Press Agency. Then the Greens in particular would have to show how serious they were about wanting to continue Red-Green-Red. “If it turns out in the new situation that we are not coming together, then the SPD must not shy away from the opposition.”
The Berlin SPD members have until Friday evening to cast their votes and indicate whether they are in favor of the coalition with the Christian Democrats favored by the state executive or against. The result should be announced on Sunday afternoon. It is considered a crucial hurdle on the way to a red-black state government – and among other things also for the political future of the current governing mayor and SPD state chairman Franziska Giffey.
“Black corset with red bows”
“In the event of a negative vote, we expect the party leadership to question whether their position is still correct,” said Tasan-Funke. The Berlin Jusos, under their two chairmen Tasan-Funke and Peter Maass, took a clear stance against black and red from the start and criticized the coalition agreement as “a black corset with red ribbons”. At the start of their campaign, Tasan-Funke announced that the Jusos would only rest if they had prevented this coalition. “Our impression is that the mood has shifted towards rejection of the contract in recent weeks,” said Tasan-Funke.
“We are very satisfied with our campaign. We receive a lot of messages from members who explain to us that we have convinced them to vote no,” said the Juso state chairwoman. “We managed to set up a broad-based campaign in a very short time.” This shows that the SPD is still a strong party with members.
“This strong membership also assures us that we will be well positioned for any outcome of the decision.” The discussion about the coalition agreement was largely objective and constructive. “In social networks we would have wished for one or the other verbal derailment less.”(dpa)
