For Franziska Giffey (SPD) and Kai Wegner (CDU), the narrow vote of the SPD base should be a reason to celebrate.Image: dpa / Monika Skolimowska
Politics
It’s been more than two months since the election and there is still no new government in Berlin. Now at least the Social Democrats have paved the way for a grand coalition of CDU and SPD released by member decision. In the end it was very close – just 54 percent of the votes cast were for this Groko.
Previously, many subgroups of the SPD had made a mood against it. With the decision to move into the Red City Hall with Kai Wegner’s CDU, many Social Democrats are feeling hangovers.
The watson app for your smartphone
The coalition could only be prevented by the state party conference of the CDU. Because the Christian Democrats are now also allowed to vote on the formation of a government – but it is considered unlikely that they will reject the Groko. The CDU state chairman Kai Wegner could be elected the first governing mayor of his party in 22 years before May 1st.
Giffey calls decision “clear result”
The Governing Mayor Franziska Giffey (SPD) was extremely relieved. “We have a clear result. A clear majority for the proposal of the SPD state board,” said Giffey. “This means that we decided by a clear margin to enter a coalition with the CDU by a member vote.”
She added: “I’m already very relieved today, I’m relieved for the SPD and for our city.” She was “very, very happy” with the result. A joy not shared by many of her comrades.
Sawsan Chebli is not very enthusiastic about the result in Berlin.Image: dpa / Christophe Gateau
Berlin SPD less happy about Groko
For example, SPD politician Sawsan Chebli would have preferred a different result. On Twitter she wrote:
“I really can’t imagine how GroKo is supposed to work in Berlin and do the city any good, and for the SPD it’s all a disaster anyway.”
Yannick Haan (also SPD) states that he also wanted a different result. Now he has to accept the vote. But it also shows that the SPD Berlin is a divided party. “A business as usual can not exist after the result”writes Haan on Twitter.
What is needed now from Haan’s point of view: An independent SPD within the Groko and the involvement of those who would have voted no. “We need a fresh start now,” demands the SPD politician.
The Bundestag member Hakan Demir (SPD) also calls for a fresh start. He writes: “Part of the party wanted to go beyond the CDU. The SPD is deeply divided. It must now be brought together.”
Some parts of the base even announce on the short message service that they are now leaving the SPD. Whether there will really be a wave of exits with the Groko will only become apparent in the coming months.
In the Berlin SPD there were many reservations about working with the CDU, also because there was the possibility of continuing the previous tripartite alliance with the Greens and the Left. The three parties together again received a majority in the repeat of the House of Representatives elections in February. However, the CDU was around ten percentage points ahead of the SPD and the Greens.
(With material from the dpa)
