CDU Courts Greens and SPD for Side Talks While Left-Green-Red Coalition Advances

With Berlin's red-green-red coalition looking increasingly likely, CDU state chairman Stefan Evers made a surprise move by inviting the Greens and SPD to a separate meeting on 29 October, citing concerning developments in the exploratory talks and upcoming decisions in the weeks ahead. Both parties confirmed they would attend but were careful to stress this is a conversation about managing the transition period, not an alternative coalition negotiation. The Left Party — the election winner with 25.7 per cent — was conspicuously not invited. At the Berlin election on 20 September, the CDU came second with 18.8 per cent, followed by the AfD on 16.3 per cent, the Greens on 14.3 per cent and the SPD on 12.1 per cent. A Left-Green-Red coalition would command 91 seats, 14 above the absolute majority, while a CDU-Green-SPD alternative would sit only two seats above the absolute majority — an option regarded as unlikely given strong reservations within the Greens and SPD. The 29 October meeting coincides with the Abgeordnetenhaus constituent session; the Left Party holds its own party congress on 31 October, when it will decide whether to enter coalition talks. If a red-green-red government is formed, Linke faction leader Elif Eralp could become Berlin's first Regierende Bürgermeisterin from her party. Budget pressures, including a possible supplementary budget, are expected to feature in the CDU's talks with the other parties.