The September 20, 2026, Berlin state election produced a fragmented Abgeordnetenhaus in which Die Linke finished first with 25.7 percent and 45 seats, ahead of the CDU, AfD, Greens, and SPD. The outgoing CDU-SPD coalition lost its majority, while a Linke-Greens-SPD combination commands 91 seats—well above the 77-seat threshold. Exploratory talks among those three parties concluded in mid-October after agreement on antisemitism safeguards and housing policy; formal coalition negotiations began November 2 and are scheduled to run through early January 2027, followed by internal party votes. The resulting red-green-red Senate would likely install Linke co-leader Elif Eralp as governing mayor by late January, with no viable alternative majority available given the firewall against the AfD and the CDU’s refusal to partner with Die Linke.