Greens Create Four-Person Commission to Choose Berlin Senate Candidates

In the morning edition of the Tagesspiegel's Checkpoint newsletter on 20 October 2026, it was reported that Berlin's Green Party has decided to set up a four-person commission to select candidates for any future senate positions. The move follows sharp internal criticism directed at the party's co-chairs Werner Graf and Bettina Jarasch in the wake of the Greens' worst election result in 20 years — just 14.3% in the 20 September 2026 state election. By entrusting ministerial candidate selection to a separate commission rather than the leadership duo, the party is signalling a reset. This development follows the Green delegates' vote of 43-2 the previous evening to enter coalition negotiations with Die Linke and the SPD. Around 18,000 party members will ultimately vote on the final coalition agreement via an online survey — a first for Berlin's Greens. The commission process marks an unusual governance step, effectively sidelining the formal leadership for the most visible consequence of winning government participation.