http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/2016/images/berlin180916.jpgBack in Berlin, it looks as if the SPD will, or almost has to, choose both the Greens and the Linke as government partners, especially after the Linke surprised nearly everyone by gaining votes while others lost, with 15.6 % (2011: 11.7 %), even beating its Green rivals by a few hairs (they got 15.2 %). All three strongly opposed the AfD, a key point in bringing them together. There are other points of agreement. But in all coalitions which the Linke ever joined they diluted their positions so much that they were often undistinguishable from the other parties -- and for the voters, who always punished them, sometimes turning to the right -- and the AfD. Will they make too many compromises again this time or will they, though partners, take more aggressive positions and seek support in the population? It was interesting to note that the Linke party gained most of all in working-class areas of West Berlin, where its members were more militant than in East Berlin, whose often elderly members, holdovers from GDR days, were not too accustomed to demonstrating out in the streets. . . . Last Saturday, one day before the Berlin vote, there were demonstrations against CETA and TTIP in seven major cities, supported by many organizations on the left, ecological groups, and, most important, at least the two biggest unions, IG Metall and Ver.di (with workers mostly in city and state jobs). It was a wonderful protest. I took part in Berlin, with about 70,000 others, starting off on the street in front of my house and marching off -- all highly-motivated, determined -- and happy that the pouring rain at the start quickly ceased. The similar marches in the other cities were not quite so big as in Berlin, of course, but all big for their cities -- and adding up to over 300,000! Even the police estimated close to 200,000! On Monday SPD leaders met in secret session to decide on their party's position toward CETA. Many grassroots groups and initiatives, even the affiliated Young Socialists, all demanded a No to CETA. Gabriel's reputation and future status were on the line. And he won. The influence of big business was stronger than that of even the biggest unions and the hundreds of thousands who demonstrated. He promised a few changes in CETA, compromises to overcome opposition, and in the end his prayers were answered -- he got the desired Yes vote. A question remains -- not unrelated to similar questions elsewhere in the world: Could one agree to join a government headed by a man like Gabriel, with all that stood behind him? The question is not quite so easy to decide in light of the nearly-fascist danger of the AfD. But it is certainly a question that will dominate German politics in the coming year and have unforeseeable results.

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