Berlin election: Greens win as CDU loses

Climate activists celebrate as CDU suffers historic defeat

Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg

BERLIN (AP) — Germany’s Greens surged to victory in a regional election in Berlin on Sunday, dealing a major setback to Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s center-left coalition and raising the prospect of a new left-wing government in the German capital. With all votes counted, the Greens won 18.9% of the vote, ahead of the center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) with 18.2% and the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) with 18.4%. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) came fourth with 9.1%. The result is a major upset, as the CDU has governed Berlin for the past 15 years. The party’s candidate, Kai Wegner, had been widely expected to win, but he was unable to capitalize on discontent with the Greens, who have been in a coalition government with the SPD and the far-left Die Linke since 2016. The Greens’ victory is a major boost for the party, which has been gaining ground in recent years. The party’s candidate, Bettina Jarasch, is a prominent climate activist, and her victory is seen as a sign of growing public concern about climate change. The result is also a setback for Scholz, who has been struggling to maintain his popularity. The SPD’s share of the vote fell from 21.4% in the previous election in 2016, and the party is now facing calls to renew itself. The election result is likely to lead to a period of political uncertainty in Berlin. The Greens have said they are open to forming a coalition with either the SPD or the CDU, but it is unclear which party they will choose. The AfD’s strong showing is a reminder of the continued strength of far-right parties in Germany. The party has been gaining ground in recent years, particularly in eastern Germany, and its success in Berlin is a sign that it is becoming a major force in German politics. The Greens’ victory in Berlin is a sign of the growing public concern about climate change. The party has been gaining ground in recent years, and its success in Berlin is a sign that it is becoming a major force in German politics.