Berlin's political landscape has been shaken by the sudden withdrawal of Kai Wegner, the incumbent CDU mayor, as the party's lead candidate for the September 2025 state election. The move comes after months of internal party scandal and rising voter frustration, and leaves the CDU scrambling to find a credible replacement ahead of a crucial vote. For the more than 800,000 foreign nationals living in Berlin — one of Europe's most internationally diverse cities — this election matters. Whoever governs Berlin will set the tone on housing affordability, integration policy, public services, and the local implementation of migration-related laws.
Kai Wegner had been serving as Berlin's Governing Mayor (Regierender Bürgermeister) since 2023, leading a CDU-SPD coalition government after ending years of SPD-led governance in the city. His decision to withdraw as lead candidate for the September election was described as dramatic and unexpected, coming amid a turbulent period for the Berlin CDU that included internal disagreements and declining poll numbers.
The withdrawal leaves the party needing to identify a new lead candidate — a process that introduces further uncertainty into an already competitive race. Berlin elections typically involve multiple parties, with the SPD, Greens, Linke, and AfD all competing for seats in the Abgeordnetenhaus (Berlin's state parliament). The outcome will determine who forms the next governing coalition and which policies are prioritised over the coming years.
For Berlin's international community, several policy areas are directly shaped by who governs the city:
Berlin has one of the tightest rental markets in Germany. Successive governments have tried — and largely struggled — to address rapidly rising rents. The CDU under Wegner took a more market-oriented approach, while left-leaning parties have historically pushed for stronger rent controls and more public housing investment. A change in government direction could shift the balance between tenant protections and housing supply policies.
Berlin's Senate is responsible for funding local integration infrastructure, including German language courses beyond the federal Integrationskurs, social counselling for migrants, and welcome centres for newcomers. Different parties have different levels of commitment to funding these services. In a city with hundreds of thousands of recent arrivals, this has a measurable impact on day-to-day life.
Berlin's Ausländerbehörde (Landesamt für Einwanderung, LEA) has faced persistent criticism for long waiting times and difficult appointment access. The level of political will and investment put into improving this office is partly determined by who is in government. Parties differ significantly on how much priority they give to making the LEA functional and accessible.
From public transport reliability to school quality in diverse neighbourhoods, the governing coalition shapes the urban environment that expats navigate every day.
At the time of publication, the CDU had not confirmed a replacement candidate. The party will need to move quickly given the September timeline. Potential successors are being discussed internally, but the transition itself carries risk: a candidate without Wegner's name recognition or governing experience could struggle to hold CDU support in a city where the party is not the natural frontrunner.
Polls in Berlin have been volatile, and the final result will depend significantly on which coalition scenarios are viable after the vote.
Depending on the outcome, Berlin could see:
For expats, no outcome guarantees dramatic immediate change in daily life, but the medium-term direction on housing, integration spending, and the efficiency of migration-related offices will be shaped by the result.
If you are an EU citizen registered (Anmeldung) in Berlin, you can vote in European Parliament elections but not in German federal or state elections. Non-EU nationals currently cannot vote in German state elections. Efforts to change this rule have been proposed in the past but have not passed at federal level.
The election is scheduled for September 2025. The exact date will be confirmed by Berlin's election authority. Polls typically open at 08:00 and close at 18:00. Even if you cannot vote, following the result and the coalition negotiations that follow is worthwhile, as they will shape policy for the next several years.
Several outlets cover Berlin politics in English, including The Local Germany, Berliner Zeitung English edition, and the Exberliner magazine. For official information on policies affecting foreigners, the Berlin Senate's website (berlin.de) also has some sections in English.
Kai Wegner's withdrawal introduces genuine uncertainty into Berlin's political picture ahead of September 2025. For expats in the city, the key takeaway is that this election has real consequences — on housing policy, integration support, and the quality of public services that foreign nationals depend on.
Even if you cannot vote, staying informed about the platforms of the main parties — particularly on housing, migration, and urban services — will help you understand what changes might come and how to prepare. If you have questions about your own immigration status or rights, always consult the LEA Berlin or a qualified immigration lawyer.
Source: The Local
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