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The Left, the Greens and the SPD have agreed to move from exploratory talks to formal coalition negotiations in Berlin, following the state parliament election held on September 20.

Party group leaders Elif Eralp, Werner Graf and Steffen Krach presented the joint agreement that will form the basis of the talks at a press conference in the German capital.

Approval votes and a year-end target

The Left will vote on the agreement at a state party congress on October 31 and decide whether to enter coalition talks. The SPD will take its decision at a party executive meeting on October 19, while the Greens will vote the same day at a gathering of 49 delegates.

If all three parties approve the agreement, coalition negotiations are expected to begin at the start of November. The three parties aim to form a governing coalition in Berlin before the end of the year.

The Left finished first in the September 20 election with 25.7 percent of the vote. If a coalition government is formed by The Left, the Greens and the SPD, Elif Eralp will become state premier of Berlin.

Key takeaways

• The Left, the Greens and the SPD agreed to move to formal coalition talks after exploratory negotiations in Berlin.
• The Left won 25.7 percent of the vote in the September 20 state election, and Elif Eralp would become state premier if a coalition is formed.
• The agreement includes plans for a bill in 2028 on expropriating housing from companies owning more than 10,000 units.
• The parties want to form a coalition government before the end of the year, with approval votes due on October 19 and October 31.