The Frankfurters SPD accepted the CDU’s offer to enter into coalition negotiations together with the Greens and rejected a left-wing alliance that was also mathematically possible. “On the basis of trusting, in-depth exploratory discussions, the executive board of the SPD Frankfurt decides to accept the offer made by the CDU to start coalition negotiations,” says a resolution from the party executive board. A Kenya alliance of the CDU, Greens and SPD would have a majority of eleven votes in the city parliament.
The SPD said that reliability and openness in previous communication were crucial for building mutual trust. The exploratory talks were trusting, transparent and constructive and created a “resilient basis for further negotiations”.
SPD wants to “ensure political stability in the city”
However, the decision is initially ineffective because the CDU and SPD do not have a majority on their own and there is no green partner in a Kenya alliance. The CDU had accepted both the SPD and the Greens on Friday Coalition negotiations offered. The Green party leadership only wants to form such a Kenya alliance on the condition that the small Volt party is also involved, although this would not be mathematically necessary given the majority situation. The announcement caused irritation in the SPD, especially since the Greens, who otherwise placed great value on grassroots democracy, did not, unlike usual, examine the CDU’s offer and present it to a district general meeting for a decision. Such a meeting is not scheduled until April 29th.
The SPD apparently still wants to set an example and is justifying its commitment to the CDU with the majority in Römer. The aim is to “ensure political stability in the city and anchor central social democratic content in a possible government coalition”. From the SPD’s perspective, a left-wing alliance that only had a majority of two votes in Römer would not guarantee this stability. The party has no longer taken part in an exploratory round for a left-wing alliance scheduled for this Wednesday.
The Greens regret the SPD’s rejection of a left-wing alliance
This is good news for CDU leader Nils Kößler, who warned against an alliance with the Left Party on Monday. “Our city now needs stability and centrist politics,” he said. He is pleased that “the SPD wants to take responsibility for Frankfurt.” At the same time, he invited the Greens to “continue the conversation with the Union and the SPD instead of sending out press releases.” He was alluding to the joint statement by the Greens and Volt, in which the two parties announced on Tuesday that they only wanted to enter into a coalition together. Mathematically, both of them, along with the CDU, would have a majority of one vote. But the CDU does not consider this alliance without the SPD to be stable; Kößler expressly rules out this constellation.
Meanwhile, the Greens announced that they regretted the SPD’s rejection of a left-wing alliance. It also comes as a surprise. Because on Tuesday the SPD confirmed the date via a press release. “We do not believe that excluding options in this difficult situation is wise,” said the two party spokespersons Tina Moradi and Burkhard Schwetje. Especially since there are overlaps, i.e. similarities in content between the SPD in alliance with the Left, Volt and the Greens. However, there are also critical issues. But they, the Greens, wanted to “discuss this with an open mind”. The Greens first want to discuss with Volt how they will respond to the CDU’s coalition offer from last week. “We have never ruled out things,” said Schwetje when asked, “and we are available for discussions.”
The Left regrets that the rejection of the SPD will not result in a left-wing alliance. The decision is bad news for Frankfurt. “We regret that the SPD wants to pave the way for the CDU to return to government in Frankfurt,” said a statement from the party and parliamentary group executive board. There is now a threat of an alliance that stands for cuts, regressions in social policy and a transport policy that ignores the needs of many people.
