Berlin.
Some want to make history, others just get out of the negative trend: the election in Berlin has an impact on federal politics.
Berlin election, second round: If the residents of the Capital city go to vote on Sunday, you can be sure of the attention of federal politicians. Because it’s about a prestigious town hall post, big city competence and the hope of trend reversals.
Berlin election: CDU victory would give Merz tailwind
An election victory in the federal capital would be balm for the nerves of CDU leader Friedrich Merz: Between “little Paschas” and Hans-Georg Maassen, the federal party recently made less talk of content than of personal details and blunders. An election victory Berlin, which currently seems likely based on the polls, would be welcome: CDU leader Merz could pride himself on the fact that the party “can also do big cities”. Party leaders murmur that if a government alliance were to work out afterwards, Berlin’s top candidate Kai Wegner would make history. In red Berlin, the CDU has not had the governing party for 22 years mayor placed.
Stefan Evers, Secretary General of the CDU Berlin, classifies for our editors: “Of course, this election also has a meaning beyond Berlin. After all, it is about the future Senate of the federal capital. And of course also the question of how the CDU can be successful in big cities.” That is why a modern election campaign was conducted with the support of the federal CDU.
The SPD has a lot to lose
The SPD leads eight of the 16 state governments. Frances Giffey is one of four Social Democratic prime ministers. The Red Town Hall and thus the capital are ruled in red. The Social Democrats are proud of all this. It is therefore of great importance for the SPD in several respects that Giffey remains head of government.
Especially since the former federal minister is still a candidate in the SPD applies when it comes to higher tasks. The stoic Chancellor Olaf Scholz will not be affected in his work if Giffey loses office. For his party, however, this would be the worst possible start to the election year.
“Please turn around” – the FDP hopes for a trend reversal in the federal government
Sebastian Czaja hoping for a 180 degree turnaround. The FDP top candidate hangs upside down on his election poster and calls on Berliners: “On February 12, please turn around. Berlin for the better.” A wish shared by his party leader. Especially the thing with the turning point.
After losing four state elections last year, Christian Lindner needs a win. A solid result, better still: one government participation. But the liberal turning point is anything but certain. At the latest when a survey shortly before the election saw the party at five percent, Lindner should have experienced deja vu. Since the FDP has been in government at the traffic light, it has suffered defeats in the federal states, sometimes being thrown out of government, sometimes out of parliament altogether.
Politically, Lindner would also survive a fifth failure. Simply because his party has no one who disputes his office. In traffic lights, however, the Zoff frequency should increase. The FDP tends to react reflexively to defeats with ego trips.
Also read:Re-election in the capital: That’s how Berliners tick
Greens despair again in the election campaign
Started with high hopes, only to fall short of expectations: It’s a pattern turning green election campaigns and results can be read again and again, for example in the first, unsuccessful attempt to elect a government for Berlin. And even at the second attempt, it becomes apparent that the red town hall will not become a green one. The national trend, which is significantly more positive than in autumn 2021, does not seem to help either.
The Green party leaders Ricarda Lang and Omid Nouripour had actually hoped to be able to celebrate a second Green head of government at state level in the first election of the year after Winfried Kretschmann. If that doesn’t work, however, the Hesse elections in the fall will offer an opportunity for the next attempt.
Leftists can hope for short-term relief – AfD in double digits
The Berlin left could give the entire party a rare experience on Sunday: an election evening in a good mood. Because unlike at the federal level, where the party continues to five percent hurdle hanging around, the polls see the left in Berlin in the double-digit range. However, this should not bring lasting relief for the party leadership around Janine Wissler and Martin Schirdewan – if the party is successful in Berlin, it is also because the state association has tried to put as much distance as possible between itself and the deeply divided party as a whole. It will be even more difficult for the chairmen than before if the result should be in the single digits. It would be proof that not even successful state associations are safe from the poison from the federal government.
It is not to be expected that the AfD will announce great successes on Sunday – the Political party has been stable at around 10 percent in the capital for a long time, not below, but not above. The party leaders Tino Chrupalla and Alice Weidel, however, should hardly contest that. You have long since focused your attention on the East German state elections in the coming year.
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