Far-left party wins Berlin election, pledging to nationalise housing - reuters.com

The Left Party (Die Linke) emerged as the winner of the Berlin state election held on Sunday, securing the largest share of votes among the competing parties. The result marks a shift in the city’s political landscape, with the far‑left party overtaking the incumbent coalition that had been supported by Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s governing alliance.

In its post‑election statements, the Left Party pledged to pursue a programme that includes the nationalisation of the city’s housing stock. Party officials said the policy is intended to address rising rents and improve affordability for residents, and they indicated that they would seek to implement it through legislative measures in the state parliament.

The outcome represents a defeat for the ruling coalition led by Chancellor Merz, whose parties had been hoping to retain control of Berlin’s government. Analysts noted that the loss reflects growing voter dissatisfaction with the coalition’s handling of local issues, particularly housing and social services.

At the same time, the election results were noted against a backdrop of continued gains by far‑right parties in eastern Germany. While the Left Party secured victory in Berlin, right‑wing groups have been making electoral advances in several eastern states, a trend that observers say could influence the broader national political balance.

Following the vote, the Left Party will need to negotiate coalition agreements with other parties to form a governing majority in the Berlin parliament. The forthcoming talks are expected to focus on how to reconcile the party’s housing nationalisation agenda with the policy priorities of potential partners, shaping the city’s governance for the next legislative term.