Berlin's political landscape is shifting ahead of the upcoming state parliament (Abgeordnetenhaus) election. A new poll published roughly two and a half weeks before election day shows the CDU in the lead, while the Left Party is losing support. Crucially, the current governing coalition of CDU and SPD no longer commands a majority in the survey. For expats living in Berlin, local elections matter: they shape housing policy, integration programmes, and the political tone of Germany's capital.
According to the BerlinTrend poll, the CDU is again in the lead. The Left Party (Die Linke) has lost voter support and fallen behind in the rankings. Perhaps most significantly for Berlin's near-term governance, the existing CDU-SPD ruling coalition would no longer hold a majority if the vote were held based on these numbers. This points to a potentially complicated post-election coalition negotiation.
Local elections determine who runs the city, and Berlin's state government makes decisions that directly affect daily life for its large international community. Areas such as affordable housing policy, the Ausländerbehörde's capacity and processes, access to language and integration courses, and the city's general approach to diversity can all be shaped by who governs at the state level.
A change in the composition of Berlin's government could mean shifts in priorities on these issues. Expats and immigrants in Berlin should be aware that the political environment is in flux, even if the direct consequences remain unclear until after the election and any coalition talks conclude.
EU citizens residing in Berlin can vote in European Parliament elections and local (district) elections, but not in state parliament (Abgeordnetenhaus) elections — those are reserved for German citizens. Non-EU nationals generally cannot vote in state elections. If you are unsure about your voting rights, check with your local registration office or a legal adviser.
Different parties have different platforms on housing, integration, and migration. A change in government could lead to policy adjustments in areas such as social housing, the speed of bureaucratic processes at the Ausländerbehörde, or funding for Integrationskurs programmes. However, any concrete changes would only become clear after the election result and coalition negotiations are complete.
The Berlin state election is approaching, and current polling suggests the outcome and any subsequent coalition is uncertain. For expats in Berlin, it is worth following the results and watching for any policy announcements from the incoming government that could affect housing, integration services, or immigration administration in the city.
Source: tagesschau
Want news like this in your inbox?
The most relevant news for expats in Germany, no noise.
The AfD is polling around 40% ahead of the Saxony-Anhalt election. Experts discuss whether the far-right party could lead a state government and what that means for immigrants in Germany.
Smaller parties in Saxony-Anhalt are close to the five-percent threshold for parliament. If they fail, the AfD could gain significantly — with possible implications for expats.
Taliban officials enter Germany to coordinate deportations, inflation rises in August, and Merz distances himself from Saxony-Anhalt's campaign. Key updates for expats.
