Negotiations for a potential red-green-red coalition in Berlin have officially commenced on Monday morning, marking a significant step six weeks after the election to the House of Representatives. The talks are being led by an overarching working group composed of top politicians from the Left, Greens, and SPD, supported by approximately a dozen specialized expert groups.
The discussions are based on a preliminary paper developed jointly by the three parties, which notably includes provisions for the socialization of housing stocks owned by large real estate corporations in Berlin. Although the negotiations are expected to last several weeks, no precise schedule has been established. A final coalition agreement could be finalized by December, though this outcome is not guaranteed.
The path to a new government requires distinct internal approval processes within each party. Members of the Left and SPD will vote directly on the government program. The Greens intend to conduct a digital opinion poll among their members, with the final decision resting with a party conference. The Left cleared the way for these negotiations on Saturday when a broad majority of delegates voted in favor at a party conference, following earlier approvals from the Greens and SPD on October 19.
These talks follow the September 20 state election, where the Left emerged as the strongest force with 25.7 percent of the vote. The results were followed by the CDU at 18.8 percent, the AfD at 16.3 percent, the Greens at 14.3 percent, and the SPD at 12.1 percent. Consequently, the previously governing CDU/SPD coalition lost its majority in the House of Representatives.
Sources: Tagesschau.