{
  "id": 8217009,
  "title": "Berlin-Wahl 2026: Richtungswahl in Berlin: Übernimmt die Linke das Rathaus?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/berlin-wahl-2026-richtungswahl-in-berlin-ubernimmt-die-linke-das",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-18T09:04:08.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Handelsblatt",
    "slug": "handelsblatt",
    "url": "https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/deutschland/berlin-wahl-2026-richtungswahl-in-berlin-uebernimmt-die-linke-das-rathaus/100255614.html"
  },
  "original_language": "de",
  "account": "In the recent Berlin election campaign, four parties, namely the Left, CDU, AfD, and Greens, were closely matched in the polls, with the Left and CDU vying for first place. Elif Eralp could potentially bring the Left into the Red City Hall for the first time. The CDU's Stefan Evers aims to prevent this outcome. Over the past five surveys, the Left had consistently led with 20-23 percent, closely followed by the CDU at 20-21 percent, tied with a poll showing a deadlock. The AfD consistently occupied third place (17-18 percent) ahead of the Greens (15-16 percent). The SPD had no chance of winning, with 10-12 percent support. The election results on Sunday are entirely open. However, it is certain that Berlin will have a new mayor or female mayor, as incumbent Kai Wegner (CDU), who has been leading the schwarz-rote Senate since April 2023, withdrew his candidacy in July due to new revelations and debates about his crisis management during a January power outage and a tennis match. The 53-year-old faced criticism for false statements about his crisis management and a tennis match. For the government parties, pressure mounted after the campaign mainly focused on whether Wegner communicated with whom and when. Wegner, 53, was replaced as the CDU's top candidate by Stefan Evers (46) shortly before the election, while the SPD suffered a severe setback. Steffen Krach (47), the SPD's top candidate, faced investigations in Hanover for alleged embezzlement in two cases, including a suspected benefit claim, and his Berlin apartment was searched. He denies all allegations, and he remains innocent until proven guilty. Only alliances of three parties are possible based on the polls. Realistic options include coalitions of the Left, Greens, and SPD, or the CDU, Greens, and SPD. With the AfD and their leader Kristin Brinker (54), no other party wants to collaborate. The most significant issue in the campaign was housing and rent policy. No other city discusses stopping or slowing the years-long significant increase in rent prices as intensely as Berlin. Possible expropriations are also part of the equation. A 2021 citizens' initiative received 59 percent approval to expropriate real estate companies with more than 3,000 apartments against compensation, but it was never implemented. The topic gained new momentum in the campaign. Left leader Eralp (45) promises to implement the citizens' initiative, and SPD financial chief Ines Schwerdtner made it a condition for joining a coalition. Eralp stated she will lower rents, negotiate with corporations, and \"pull every damned lever to make Berlin affordable again.\" She even wears a \"Rent Ceiling\" pendant. Expropriations are questioned, whether Eralp will bring this strategy to the Red City Hall, where a left-leaning Berlin mayor and the first with a migration background would be, remains to be seen. The Greens might join the expropriation, as it is theoretically allowed by the Grundgesetz, but politically and legally highly controversial. The SPD's Krach, who is also the party chief, opposes expropriations. The SPD has a powerful left wing that disagrees with the idea. SPD leaders faced criticism for agreeing to ban such expropriations at the state level in the coalition agreement with the Union in Berlin earlier in July. SPD leaders fear their worst-ever election result due to national trends and criticize the Bundestag's reform agenda. The CDU tried to sharpen its conservative image and position itself as the rational force in the center, distancing itself from the far right and AfD, accusing them of antisemitism. Evers claimed one must be reasonable, while he denounced expropriation demands as \"populist.\"",
  "summary": "Wohl noch nie war eine Wahl zum Abgeordnetenhaus im Stadtstaat Berlin so spannend wie dieses Mal. Verteidigt die CDU das Rathaus oder übernimmt erstmals die Linke? Eine Sache steht indes schon fest.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Handelsblatt",
        "title": "Berlin-Wahl 2026: Schäbig statt sexy? Was Berlin im Wahlkampf bewegt",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/berlin-wahl-2026-schabig-statt-sexy-was-berlin-im-wahlkampf-bewegt",
        "published": "2026-09-16T03:45:06.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}