In Berlin, the Left, the Greens, and the SPD are now turning their attention toward coalition negotiations. The three parties wrapped up their exploratory talks on Saturday evening. In an agreement titled “More Together. More Berlin” (PDF), they already sketched out priorities for a future partnership, including queer rights initiatives.
“We also firmly reaffirm our identity as Berlin’s rainbow capital and will secure queer infrastructures, safe spaces, and prevention work against queer-hostility, along with the corresponding action plans, and will continue to develop them,” reads the exploratory paper.
Now, the parties’ internal committees must still formally decide to enter coalition talks, which could begin in early November.
Visible and Self-Determined
As a guiding principle, the parties state: “We want a Berlin where everyone can live freely and safely, regardless of their origin, religion, gender, or how long they’ve lived in Berlin—visible and self-determined.”
Elsewhere in the document, it says: “In times of rising social division and right-wing agitation, we take responsibility to actively strengthen social cohesion.” The aim is a Berlin where all people—regardless of gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, chronic illness, or neurodivergence—can live with equal rights in dignity, security, and freedom.
The three parties also emphasize: “The varied experiences, political beliefs, and life plans of Berliners belong to our city.” They stand for “equal participation, conflicts fought peacefully and democratically, democracy and human rights, as well as freedom of opinion, art, and science.” They reject antisemitism, anti-Romanyism, racism in all its forms, and hostility toward groups such as queer people.
Left politician Elif Eralp, who could become Berlin’s first Left mayor, announced a “joint protection pledge for Jewish life.” “We will stand up against anti-Semitism,” she said. But the pledge also applies to other forms of racism and queer-hostility.
Antidiscrimination Check for All Laws
“Discrimination-free governance is a mandatory cross-cutting task for all political and societal actions,” the parties write. “To ensure this, we will subject all laws and regulations to an antidiscrimination check and close existing protection gaps.” They intend to reform the state anti-discrimination law (LADG) and further develop the Diversity State Program.
Additionally, they want a State Democracy Promotion Act: “At the same time, we will strengthen anti-discrimination work, empowerment, monitoring, and documentation of civil society with this act.”
Eralp pledged to counter the city’s divisions. “For social cohesion, a central goal is to pursue an inclusive policy—moving away from polarization and divisions,” she said. “We’re thinking of the city’s diverse communities as one; we want to connect them and build bridges.”
Expropriation and Rent Cap
Nationwide debates are likely to be sparked by the plan to consider socializing large private housing portfolios if a coalition forms. According to the plan, private housing corporations with portfolios of at least 10,000 apartments would be expropriated in Berlin, with compensation. For the roughly 440,000 municipal apartments, there would be a rent cap allowing a maximum annual rent increase of 2 percent. The parties vow to take strong action against illegal “rent gouging.” The current largest housing construction program aims to deliver 100,000 building permits by 2031, followed by 100,000 new affordable homes.
The parties also want to tackle littering in the capital. Eralp announced a yearly free bulky item collection day. Green faction leader Werner Graf said, “We will also examine whether we can introduce a packaging tax here in Berlin.”
Even before negotiations began, the parties had already signed an agreement on how to handle antisemitic incidents within The Left’s ranks. They collectively vow to protect Jewish life, to support Israel’s right to exist, and to pursue a two-state solution. They also contemplated sanctions up to expulsion from the parliamentary group. Greens and the SPD made this understanding a prerequisite for exploratory talks.
In the Berlin state election on September 20, The Left emerged as the strongest party with 25.7 percent, followed by the CDU with 18.8, AfD with 16.3, Greens with 14.3, and the SPD with 12.1. The existing CDU/SPD coalition thus lost its majority. (dpa)
