{
  "id": 8726749,
  "title": "Wahl in Berlin: Wahl-Prognosen: Linke greift in Berlin nach der Macht",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/wahl-in-berlin-wahl-prognosen-linke-greift-in-berlin-nach-der-macht",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-20T16:39:14.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Handelsblatt",
    "slug": "handelsblatt",
    "url": "https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/deutschland/wahl-in-berlin-wahl-prognosen-linke-greift-in-berlin-nach-der-macht/100255968.html"
  },
  "original_language": "de",
  "account": "In the wake of Saxony-Anhalt's recent elections, where the AfD secured a landslide victory, a surprising development might unfold in Berlin's upcoming municipal elections. According to projections from ARD and ZDF, the Left (Linke) party could have unexpectedly triumphed over the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). For the first time, the party's leading candidate, Elif Eralp, could potentially become the city's next mayor, replacing the Union's incumbent. CDU's main contender, Stefan Evers, had made it his mission to prevent this outcome and maintain the Red City Hall for the Union. However, it would not be impossible, despite the CDU being forecasted to trail significantly behind the Left. Two distinct tripartite alliances are plausible: either a coalition between the Left, Greens, and SPD, or the CDU, Greens, and SPD. The race was extremely tight, with projections indicating that the Left could secure 24.5-26% of the vote, a doubling from 2023, while the CDU trailed at 20%. The Greens, with 15-15.5%, and a growing AfD, estimated to perform worse than recent polls suggested, at 13.5-16%, struggled to gain ground. The SPD, which has consistently governed Berlin with the Union since reunification, fell to a historic low of 12%, their worst performance in the city's polling history. The Social Democrats remained a distant third, with projections suggesting they would fare poorly in Berlin. Housing and rent were the main campaign issue for the Left, with Eralp promising to implement a successful referendum from 2021 to seize large apartment complexes against compensation, now without conditions. This would provide the city with an estimated 220,000 additional communal homes, allowing it to exert more influence over the housing market, where rents have been steadily rising. CDU candidate Stefan Evers accused the Left of populism, citing expensive compensation payments to the conglomerates in the billions. Instead, he argued, more housing should be built. Evers portrayed the Left as \"completely radical\" and linked it to claims of insufficient action against antisemitism within the party. Such a party should not govern Berlin. The polarization between the Left and CDU during the campaign may have contributed to the Greens not performing as strongly as they did in the previous election. With the Greens, led by Werner Graf, adopting a pragmatic and calmer tone. The SPD, meanwhile, faced a negative Bundestrend due to the controversial coalition agenda of the coalition government in Berlin. Despite this, the Greens and SPD are now the key players, as they hold two coalition options and will decide whether Eralp, a first left-wing Berlin mayor and the first of Turkish descent, or Evers, a conservative CDU member, will serve as the city's next leader.",
  "summary": "In Berlin steht nach der Wahl zum Abgeordnetenhaus ein Regierungswechsel an. Möglich sind nach den Prognosen nur noch Dreier-Koalitionen. Diese Parteien könnten sie anführen.",
  "key_points": [
    "CDU candidate Stefan Evers aims to prevent Left victory, maintain Red City Hall.",
    "Housing and rent cited as key campaign issue for Left, promising 220,000 communal homes."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "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."
}