Die Linke in Berlin: Ascent to Power - Young and Revolutionary!

Die Linke in Berlin: Ascent to Power - Young and Revolutionary!

Berlin, Deutschland - The Berlin Left has reached 19 percent approval in the current Berlin trend and is therefore the second strongest force behind the CDU. Party leader Maximilian Schirmer strives to conquer the Red Rathaus in 2026. A year ago, the party has recovered since the Bundestag election in 2021. The growth of over 8,000 new members is particularly striking, many of them young and politically inexperienced people. Especially in the age group of 16- to 34-year-olds, the consent of 11 percent increased to remarkable 46 percent.

The internal split of the left, which was caused by the founding of the Sahra Wagenknecht alliance and disputes over the Middle East conflict, now seems to have been overcome. As part of its future strategy, rent policy is set as a central campaign agenda, as a quarter of the respondents see this as the top priority. The CDU and SPD, on the other hand, lose support and do not achieve an absolute majority in the current Berlin trend. In addition, public disputes between the coalition partners show dissatisfaction.

struggle for survival

The Berlin left faces a double race: the number of members is increasing, but at the same time the party is fighting for its political relevance. After loss of voice in three East German state elections, the situation is described by the chairman Anne Helm and Tobias Schulze as a "veritable crisis". In a strategy paper entitled "Solidarity organize: A new left -wing politics in the neighborhood", the left is to be helped for new importance by 2026. The main goal is to prevent the party's impending departure from the Bundestag.

Schulze emphasizes the importance of direct work in the neighborhood, especially in urban areas with social problems, which are important for people with small and medium -sized incomes. The active areas include the Märkische Viertel in Reinickendorf and the thermometer settlement in Steglitz-Zehlendorf. A local housing program with a budget of one billion euros could also be a crucial step to strengthen your position.

The apartment sector in the focus

thematic focus for the next two years is primarily housing and rent policy. The left announced support for a possible second referendum for expropriation of large real estate companies and plans the introduction of a safe-to-use law in order to better secure the living space. Tenant meetings and social consultations are intended to help strengthen the neighborhood character of rent policy. Tenants who suffer from increasing additional costs or impending housing sales should also receive targeted support.

The member base of the left has increased by announcing the BSW foundation in October 2023, with over 1,730 new members. At the same time, however, there were also departures, so that the party is now 7,589 members, which makes it the largest state association in Germany. This dynamic could help the left to successfully implement their strategy and to further expand support from the population.

The current survey values ​​also reflect challenges: While the Berlin left -wing left is 19 percent approval, its nationwide survey for the federal election is 10.3 percent. In the old federal states, the values ​​drop to 4.2 percent, such as a result that shows that the political landscape is complex to navigate. The left in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania recorded the highest approval rate with 15 percent, while it can only reach 2 or 1 percent in North Rhine-Westphalia and Bavaria.

In the coming months, it will be crucial whether the Berlin left -wing can successfully implement its new strategy and whether it succeeds in asserting itself as a relevant political force in Berlin and beyond. The challenges are great, but the will to reform and the mobilization of new members could give the party the necessary momentum.