Historic defeat in Berlin of the ruling social democracy in Germany

The Social Democratic Party (SPD, in German) that governs Germany suffered a heavy defeat this Sunday in regional elections in Berlin, which had been one of its strongholds for more than 20 years, the local press reported.

The elections were won by the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), the formation of the former head of the German government Angela Merkel, with 27.8% of the votes that would allow her to have 47 of the 147 seats totals of the Berlin regional parliament.

The SPD was not only defeated by the CDU but fell to third place, also led by the center-left Liberal party The Greens, who obtained 18.8% of the votes, which would ensure 32 seats.

While, the SPD gathered 18.7% of the votes, which would also earn it 32 seatsaccording to a projection by the firm Infratest Dimap quoted by the German news agency DPA.

???????? BERLIN | Christian Democrats win state elections, but it remains unclear who will come in second. The difference between SPD and Greens is very little.

Whoever gets the most votes from both parties could win the mayoralty. The current coalition will maintain the majority. pic.twitter.com/J4GeGFJgHX

— Electoral (@ElElectoral) February 12, 2023

Behind were La Izquierda (12.1% of the votes and 21 seats); Alternative for Germany (9% and 15 seats) and the Liberal Democratic Party (FDP, 4.5%, below the floor of 5% of the votes required to occupy seats in parliament).

The CDU expressed its intention to govern the province, although it was far from the majority of 74 seats. “Thank you very much for this clear mandate to govern,” said the CDU’s first candidate, Kai Wegner, after the results were known.

Instead, the “most feasible formula”, according to DPA, seemed like a coalition between Social Democrats and Greens with support from La Izquierda.

German conservatives prevail in the rerun of the elections #Berlin

The victory of the #CDU It is not enough to displace the current coalition in the capital, according to projections.

The elections were repeated due to organizational failures in the 2021 vote./jpc pic.twitter.com/5z5nleOElp

— DW Spanish (@dw_espanol) February 12, 2023

It is the first time in more than 20 years that the CDU is the most voted force in Berlin.

The Christian Democratic Party based its campaign for these elections on the defense of security and order, after the riots that occurred on December 31, which left dozens injured.

Today’s elections were held after the state Constitutional Court annulled those held on September 26, 2021, due to significant logistical problems that occurred on that day.