Wegner Secures landslide Victory in Re-election
In the lead-up to the state election on September 20, 2026, the CDU's top candidate and current Berlin mayor, Kai Wegner, has outlined his vision for governing Berlin. Wegner has ruled out any cooperation with the AfD and the Left Party, stating that a government without the centre would lead to Berlin falling back. He has also accused the Left Party of playing the game of antisemites and considers a city governed with the AfD as one that relies on hate and agitation and is dependent on Putin. Wegner has reaffirmed his party's claim to lead the Senate in the future, aiming for Berlin to remain on a course of reason. He has expressed concern about the development of the Left Party in recent years, stating they are radicalising in a way he didn't expect. In terms of housing, Wegner supports further acceleration of construction in the city, including peripheral development on Tempelhofer Field. However, the CDU stands firm on housing on Tempelhofer Field and will not support expropriations. Wegner has stated that rents have exploded in recent years and many people are deeply concerned about the bourgeois centre. Wegner has also addressed the issue of tenant protection, stating that Berlin needs to tighten its measures in this area. He plans to engage in talks with the coalition partner SPD on speeding up public procurement law. Wegner has criticised the current Red-Red-Green coalition as dysfunctional and has opposed the 'Berlin car-free' initiative, which aims to largely ban individual car traffic within the S-Bahn ring. He has also highlighted progress made in administrative reform and the appointment situation at citizen's offices, under the black-red Senate. Wegner's goal is to govern Berlin without the involvement of the Left Party in the future. No official date for his nomination as the CDU's top candidate for the next state election has been announced yet, but Wegner was reconfirmed as CDU leader at the state party conference about one year before the election, receiving approval from over 89.8% of delegates.
