Berlin Greens Launch Election Campaign with the Slogan "Out of the Backwardness"

Werner Graf outlined his political goals for the capital: "My goal is a Berlin that works again – climate-friendly, affordable, and free." With this, he formulated the claim that political measures should be measurable by people's everyday lives. "For me, it's about politics becoming understandable again and being measured by people's everyday lives," Graf said, according to dpa. The slogan picks up on the promise to align political decisions more strongly with concrete realities of life.

Housing is at the center of the election program. The Greens are calling for affordable rents and are committed to converting office spaces into residential areas, summarized in the demand "Offices into housing." With this, the party is reacting to the persistently tense situation on the Berlin housing market and the growing discrepancy between available commercial spaces and a lack of housing.

Housing and Transport as Priorities

The Greens also formulated concrete demands on the issue of transport. They are advocating for "reliable public transport" and want to end congested rush hour traffic and unreliable connections with the slogan "No more crawling." Mobility should therefore remain predictable and affordable, especially for those who rely on buses and trains.

Climate policy also remains a central concern for the Greens. "Climate change hasn't gone away – just because no one wants to hear about it anymore," is their message. With this, the party wants to make it clear that it continues to see climate protection as an urgent task, despite declining public attention.

Starting Position: Polls and Coalitions

The starting position and environment of the election campaign are challenging: Berlin is currently governed by a black-red coalition of CDU and SPD in the Senate. In recent polls, the Greens are at 15 to 18 percent, thus behind the CDU. At the same time, the Berlin Greens are in a close race with the AfD, the Left Party, and the SPD, which makes the outcome of the election appear open.

Historically, the Greens are entering new territory in Berlin: the party has never before nominated a Governing Mayor in the capital. Should Graf and Jarasch succeed in winning the election and leading a coalition, this would be a novelty in the post-war history of the state of Berlin.

Historical Dimension: First Chance for the Red City Hall?

The kick-off also highlights the Greens' strategic claim to position issues such as climate, housing, and mobility as unifying cross-cutting themes. With the slogan "Out of the Backwardness," the party is positioning itself against the current government and promising to align political decisions more closely with the needs of Berliners.