Berlin’s Former Mayor, Franziska Giffey, Aims to Lead SPD to Victory in 2026 Elections
Berlin’s former mayor, Franziska Giffey, has expressed her intention to work towards the Social Democratic Party (SPD) regaining its position as the strongest force in the 2026 state election in Berlin. In an interview with the Tagesspiegel, Giffey emphasized her commitment to ensuring the SPD’s success, stating, “I am working to make the SPD the strongest force again.”
Giffey previously served as the mayor of Berlin from 2021 to 2023, leading a red-green-black coalition government. However, the SPD suffered a significant decline in the 2023 repeat election, falling to 18.4 percent, while the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) secured a clear victory with 28.2 percent of the vote. The CDU, now in a black-red government, is led by Kai Wegner, who is supported by Giffey as a deputy and the state’s economy senator.
Giffey also outlined the key factors in her candidacy for the SPD’s top position in the upcoming election year. “The top candidacy is a task that not many people can accomplish” she said. “Therefore, the selection of those in the running will never be particularly large. What is decisive is that the person chosen has the broad support of the party from the base up.”
Giffey left the door open to the possibility of a member-based decision on the candidate, stating that the chosen individual should have “very broad support within the entire party.” The former mayor’s chances of securing the top candidacy may be enhanced if the decision is made through a vote of all SPD members in Berlin, rather than just party officials.