Berlin SPD Executive Votes for Binding Member Referendum on Coalition Agreement

The Berlin SPD executive board voted on 30 October 2026 to submit any coalition agreement with Die Linke and the Greens to a binding membership referendum before ratification. The decision was announced ahead of Die Linke's Saturday party congress, which must first approve entering negotiations. If that congress gives its approval, formal three-party coalition talks are expected to begin as early as Monday.

Both other parties have made similar commitments to consult their members. Die Linke is also planning a binding member survey on any final agreement. The Greens intend to gather a so-called digital opinion from their membership on both the coalition deal and the party's proposed personnel in the new senate, after which a state delegates assembly will make the definitive decision.

The three parties are negotiating a potential red-green-red governing coalition following Berlin's state election on 20 September 2026. Die Linke finished as the strongest party with 25.7% of the vote, ahead of the CDU on 18.8%, the AfD on 16.3%, and the Greens on 14.3%. The SPD trailed last with 12.1%, its historically worst result in Berlin.