After the repeat elections in Berlin, there are signs of a change of power in the red-green-red-governed capital. First, the SPD declares that it wants to form a coalition with the CDU. Now the election winner agrees. Negotiations are due to start next week.
The CDU and SPD want to negotiate the formation of a joint government in Berlin. After the SPD state board, the CDU also spoke out in favor of corresponding talks. The state board voted unanimously for it, as a CDU spokesman announced.
Coalition negotiations with the SPD are to begin as early as next week, as CDU top candidate Kai Wegner announced. On Monday it is planned to set up the working groups for the negotiations. In the days that followed, the umbrella group would meet with the top representatives of the parties for the first time and discuss the further procedure.
This indicates a change of power in the capital, which has been governed by the SPD, the Greens and the Left since 2016, although the previous tripartite alliance would also have a majority in the new parliament. If black and red work, Franziska Giffey, who has only been head of government since December 2021, would have to leave the town hall. She has declared her willingness to work as a senator in the new state government. In this case, the new governing mayor would be the CDU top candidate Kai Wegner. The CDU last provided a head of government in Berlin with Eberhard Diepgen, who was in office from 1984 to 1989 and from 1991 to 2001.
The CDU won the repeat election on February 12 with 28.2 percent. SPD and Greens both got 18.4 percent. With 53 votes, the Social Democrats only have a wafer-thin lead over the Greens. They did worse than ever in a House of Representatives election. The left came to 12.2 percent, the AfD to 9.1. The FDP flew out of parliament with 4.6 percent.
Since February 17, the parties have been exploring in exploratory talks whether there is a common basis for coalition negotiations and for forming a government. The CDU spoke three times each with the SPD and the Greens. SPD, Greens and Left also met three times. SPD state chairwoman Giffey justified the move from red-green-red to the CDU with "respect for the election result". A new start is not possible with the previous partners, the Greens and the Left.
The Berlin Constitutional Court declared the election on September 26, 2021 invalid due to "serious systemic deficiencies and numerous electoral errors. The court ordered a complete repetition. Nothing will change in the duration of the five-year legislative period. It will end in 2026.
