While the AfD is the largest party across east Germany, a regional exception can be found in Berlin. In last week’s state election, the far-Left Die Linke more than doubled its previous vote share to 25.7%, making it the largest party, with the AfD in third place. In east German politics, it’s clear that the CDU’s support base is being eroded by the AfD. But Berlin presents an exact mirror image, with the SPD being sidelined by Die Linke.
Unlike the CDU with its Right-wing rival, the SPD does not have a formal firewall against Die Linke. That may be changing now, though. The Berlin branch of Die Linke is the most radical in the country. Its main proposals are rent control in the city and the expropriation of private housing owned by property companies. After the Berlin result, the share price of Vonovia, a large Berlin property company, declined against a more hostile political backdrop.
