Berlin’s Social Democrats and Greens voted Monday to enter coalition negotiations with the Left Party, moving the capital closer to a red-green-red government after weeks of exploratory talks.

The SPD’s state executive approved the step in a digital meeting, with 26 members voting in favor and three against. Later the same evening, the Greens followed suit at a small party conference, where 42 of 44 delegates backed the decision; one source later adjusted the count to 43 in favor after two overlooked ballots were included. The Left Party will decide at its own conference on Oct. 31, with formal coalition talks potentially beginning in early November if approved.

The three parties reached a preliminary agreement Saturday on a policy framework that includes the nationalization of roughly 160,000 apartments from five major property firms, a cap on compensation at €16 billion, and a plan to seek legislative approval by mid-2028. The law would take effect a year after passage, likely triggering constitutional review and legal challenges from the housing industry. The framework also commits to building 100,000 new homes by 2031, limiting annual rent increases for state-owned housing to 2%, and creating a new rent oversight authority in 2027.

A joint declaration on combating antisemitism, agreed before the exploratory talks, will be incorporated into any coalition treaty. It affirms the protection of Jewish life, Israel’s right to exist, and support for a two-state solution, with sanctions up to expulsion from the parliamentary group for violations. The issue had complicated negotiations after several incidents within the Left Party’s ranks.

Green faction leader Werner Graf hailed the preliminary deal, stating it secured “many green successes,” including expanded bike lanes, improved public transit, and a halt to further construction on the A100 highway. “In transport policy, a new era will begin,” Graf said. SPD state co-chairs Bettina König and Steffen Krach said they had successfully advanced many SPD positions and received a clear mandate from their executive to proceed.

The Left Party, which won 25.7% in the Sept. 20 state election, would lead the coalition, with its faction leader Elif Eralp poised to become Berlin’s first governing mayor from the party if the talks succeed. The previous CDU-SPD coalition lost its majority after the Greens finished with 14.3% and the SPD at 12.1%, its worst result in the city.