Berliners will go to the polls on Sunday to elect a new state parliament. We explain who can vote, the big issues and what you can expect from this nail-biting election.
September is a busy month for elections in Germany this year. Just a couple of weeks after the explosive vote in Saxony-Anhalt that saw the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) score over 40 percent of the vote, another key date is coming up.
On Sunday, September 20th, voters in Berlin and the northern state of Mecklenburg Western Pomerania will have the chance to elect new state parliaments. In Berlin, it’s known as the Abgeordnetenhauswahl or House of Representatives election.
You can check out our explainer on Meck-Pomm here, but right now we’re focussing on Berlin.
Who can vote in Berlin?
For the first time, people aged 16 and 17 can vote in the state elections in Berlin.
So, if you’re a German citizen aged 16 and over and you’ve lived in Berlin for at least three months, you’ll be able to have your say.
EU citizens aged 16 and over can also cast ballots in the district council elections (BVV), which are taking place at the same time.
All eligible voters who are registered in the capital will have received their voting cards in the post already.
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What can we expect from the election?
It’s a tight race so far.
Currently, Berlin’s House of Representatives is governed by a coalition of the centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD), with Kai Wegner (CDU) as mayor.
Recent polls have shown the CDU and Die Linke (The Left party) neck and neck, with each party taking turns to edge ahead.
For example, an INSA poll published Monday by newspaper Bild found the CDU, with lead candidate Stefan Evers, and The Left, with lead candidate Elif Eralp, each polling at 20 percent.
The far-right AfD followed with 18 percent. The Greens were at 16 percent, and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) at 12 percent. The BSW could also narrowly make it into the House of Representatives. According to this poll, the party stood at five percent of the vote, while the FDP was polling below the five-percent threshold needed to make it into parliament.
This Instagram post shows a recent poll.
When will we know the results of this election?
In German elections, initial results based on exit polls are released just after 6pm on Sunday when voting booths close. These usually give a fairly accurate representation of the result we can expect. As the evening progresses, more accurate numbers are released.
A preliminary official result is usually released later in the night or the next day.
In the following days, coalition talks begin.
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Which coalitions are possible?
If The Left wins the election, the current political climate leaves them with only the Greens and the SPD as potential partners.
Cooperation with the CDU – a model already in place in the state of Thuringia – is unthinkable in Berlin; the Christian Democrats have framed much of their campaign around defending Berlin against The Left, accusing the party of being “infiltrated by antisemites and extremists”.
And, by the way, the CDU has also run into difficulties. In July, Wegner stepped down from his campaign for re-election after a row over his decision to play tennis while the German capital suffered a power blackout in January.
The situation could play out differently if the Greens, with lead candidate Werner Graf, were to finish second – behind The Left party but ahead of the CDU – and perhaps even surpass their best-ever result (18.9 percent in 2021). In that case, a coalition with the CDU and SPD would be possible, under Green leadership.
If the CDU wins, the same coalition is likely, but with the CDU retaining their mayoral position.
The various combinations of coalitions will become clearer after we know the final result.
Of course, all the parties will have plenty to argue about, whether it’s the plans for development on Tempelhofer Feld, cycling infrastructure or the extension of the A100 Autobahn.
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What are the big issues in Berlin?
As you might expect in a city where it can feel near impossible to find a flat, affordable homes is a huge issue and one all the parties are addressing.
The SPD is calling for rent controls, while The Left proposes a one-year rent freeze for state-owned housing companies. In general, political parties are also calling for more homes to be built.
Culture remains a hot topic, with budgets slashed in recent years to offset city debt, while cleaning up Berlin’s streets has been a big talking point during this election campaign.
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Berliners are also typically frustrated over slow bureaucracy and dysfunctional authorities (see the long-running saga to build BER airport).
The aforementioned Tempelhofer Feld, public transport, road and cycling infrastructure, homelessness, social issues and migration are also important themes in Berlin.
Briefly, the CDU is focusing on security and law and order, a more effective state, economic growth and modernisation.
The SPD is pushing for affordability, boosting the economy and employment, and campaigning for better family policy and public safety.
The Left wants to reform housing, including implementing the “Expropriate Deutsche Wohnen & Co.” referendum. The party also wants to expand public transport and keep ticket costs down as well as expanding cycling infrastructure.
The Greens’ big issues are climate protection, public transport and moving towards a socially just city. The party also promotes equality, diversity and modernisation.
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Wait – why is there an election so soon after the 2023 vote?
Good question. State elections are generally held every five years – but Berlin’s 2023 election was actually a re-run.
It came about after a court found the city had failed to meet basic democratic standards during the September 26th, 2021 ballot.
The 2021 vote was held on the same day as the federal election and the Berlin marathon. By all accounts it was chaos. Voters had to deal with long lines, ballot shortages and other logistical issues that made it impossible for some to cast a vote.
While the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) won the 2021 vote, the re-run saw the CDU take the top spot.
The city is voting again in 2026 because we’re back to the original election cycle schedule.
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