Berlin Coalition Talks Slip to January: Several Hurdles on the Road to a New Senate

The three parties negotiating Berlin's next coalition government — the SPD, the Greens and Die Linke — have abandoned their original pre-Christmas deadline and now aim to present a finished coalition agreement at the start of 2027, possibly as early as January 4. SPD state chairwoman Bettina König confirmed after the second round of talks at the Berlin House of Representatives: "We want to be ready at the beginning of the year to present a coalition contract." Member votes across all three parties are planned for the second half of January, with Elif Eralp potentially being elected Governing Mayor by the House of Representatives around January 21, 2027. Several hurdles are slowing the process: Berlin faces a severe budget shortfall that makes financial negotiations particularly difficult, the parliamentary calendar rules out holding party events over the holiday period, and the member votes (Mitgliederentscheide) of all three parties — involving several membership forums — will take at least two additional weeks, possibly more. Outgoing CDU mayor Kai Wegner will remain in office through the transition and will deliver Berlin's New Year's address on January 1, 2027 — his fourth, and likely his last.