Overview

• Andreas Geisel announced he will not seek re-election to the Berlin Abgeordnetenhaus in 2026 after 31 years in state and local government.
• He argues that after eight legislative terms leadership renewal is vital and pledges to remain a devoted Social Democrat beyond frontline politics.
• Geisel asserts that the SPD’s tilt toward state ownership and identity-centered policies has overshadowed its economic and social agenda.
• He warns that shifting property ownership alone cannot resolve Berlin’s acute housing shortage without a significant boost in new construction.
• He rejects proposed headscarf allowances for Muslim teachers in schools and calls for a strict separation of religion and state.