Berlin SPD Opens Door to Red-Green-Red Coalition Amid Election Shifts

On September 25, 2026, Cansel Kiziltepe, vice-chair of the Berlin SPD, voiced clear support for coalition negotiations between the SPD, the Greens, and the leading party, the Linke. Kiziltepe, the first prominent SPD figure to publicly back such talks, highlighted the electorate's shift toward a leftist agenda, noting that the "people of Berlin chose a leftist policy on election day." Despite the SPD’s historic low of 12.1% votes, she stressed the need for a stable government representing political change, rejecting the prospects of a minority government or a CDU-led Senate.

The Linke emerged strongest with 25.7% of the vote and is open to exploratory talks with SPD and Greens; however, coalition talks face complications due to allegations of antisemitism within the Linke. Kiziltepe emphasized a zero-tolerance stance on antisemitism, while SPD General Secretary Tim Klüssendorf warned that coalition formation might be difficult if the Linke does not confront these issues and suggested possible expulsion of members involved.

Kiziltepe’s political outlook aligns closely with Linke’s lead candidate Elif Eralp, enhancing potential common ground for cooperation. The Linke plans to decide on inviting SPD and Greens to talks at an upcoming party congress. This development marks a pivotal moment as Berlin seeks to navigate post-election dynamics with a left bloc majority while addressing internal party challenges.