Berlin SPD to Let Members Vote on Red-Green-Left Coalition

The Berlin SPD is planning a formal member referendum on a potential red-green-red coalition with the Greens and The Left, after growing calls for grassroots involvement from within the party. According to party circles, first reported by the Tagesspiegel, the proposal is to be put on track in the next few days — first in the managing state executive, then in the broader state executive.

Among those who pushed for member participation were economics senator and former party leader Franziska Giffey and ex-Bundestag president Wolfgang Thierse, both of whom are opposed to a red-green-red coalition.

At the Berlin state parliament election on September 20, The Left emerged as the strongest party with 25.7 percent, 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 — the SPD's historically worst result. The previously governing CDU-SPD coalition lost its majority, and following successful sounding talks, the three parties are now working toward forming a red-green-red government. If they succeed, Left faction leader Elif Eralp could become Berlin's first governing mayor from her party.

The SPD has held member votes before: in 2023 on the then black-red coalition agreement, and in 2024 on its new party leadership.