CDU invitation and stated reasons

The Berlin CDU has invited the leaders of the SPD and the Greens to a joint conversation, a party spokeswoman said. The step was taken in view of the 'troubling course' of exploratory talks and the decisions due in the coming weeks, and both the invitation and the talks are confidential. CDU state chair Stefan Evers made clear that the offer of cooperation still stands.

“The CDU's hand remains outstretched for an alliance of responsibility and reason.”

SPD and Greens reject an exploratory round

The SPD and the Greens confirmed they would take part but rejected the idea that the meeting is about forming a government. Berlin's SPD state chair Bettina König told the Deutsche Presse-Agentur that the two parties already govern the state together and have enough to settle between them.

“Evers has invited us to a meeting, and of course we keep talking to each other.”

The Greens said the purpose was the 'constructive shaping' of the transition period until a new government is formed, and stated that the conversation is not an exploratory round. The Left, the winner of the election, was not invited to the meeting. The Tagesspiegel was the first outlet to report the invitation.

Budget and timing of the meeting

According to dpa, a possible supplementary budget is expected to be on the agenda because of Berlin's tight financial situation. The meeting is planned for 29 October, the same day the newly elected House of Representatives holds its constituent session. Coalition talks, if they happen, would therefore begin only after the new parliament has formed.

Path to a Left-led government

The 20 September election gave The Left 25.7 percent, ahead of the CDU with 18.8 percent, the AfD with 16.3 percent, the Greens with 14.3 percent and the SPD with 12.1 percent. The previous CDU/SPD coalition lost its majority. The Greens and the SPD have agreed to open coalition talks with The Left, which will decide at a party conference on 31 October.

The Left25.7%

CDU18.8%

AfD16.3%

Greens14.3%

SPD12.1%

The Left

25.7 %

CDU

18.8 %

AfD

16.3 %

Greens

14.3 %

SPD

12.1 %

Data from the article text

If that alliance forms, Left parliamentary group leader Elif Eralp could become the first governing mayor from her party. A coalition of CDU, Greens and SPD would also be arithmetically possible, but only with a narrow majority. The Left has faced accusations over its handling of antisemitism and organised crime. The three parties agreed a joint declaration against antisemitism before the exploratory talks, and it is to be written into the coalition agreement if a government is formed.

Public opinion on a Left-led option

A ZDF Politbarometer survey by Forschungsgruppe Wahlen, conducted between 20 and 22 October among 1,225 eligible voters online and by phone, found that 56 percent of Germans would view a red-green-red government in Berlin negatively. Another 26 percent would see it positively and 16 percent said it would not matter to them. Among SPD supporters 42 percent disapprove, and among people close to the Greens 26 percent do.

Bad, all respondents56%

Good, all respondents26%

Indifferent, all respondents16%

Bad, all respondents

56 %

Good, all respondents

26 %

Indifferent, all respondents

16 %

Data from the article text

The survey's margin of error is roughly plus or minus three percentage points at a 40 percent share. The same Politbarometer put the AfD at 26 percent nationally, two points lower, with the Union at 23 percent, two points higher. An Allensbach poll for the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung gave the AfD 27 percent, one point less than in September, and showed the Union unchanged at 23 percent.