Overview
- SPD and CDU negotiators said their parties will be asked to open formal coalition talks after constructive soundings, with internal approvals expected and negotiations likely to start next week.
- Insa/Nordkurier polling puts AfD at 34% to the SPD's 25% in Brandenburg, and 68% of voters prefer new elections as 54% view an SPD–CDU coalition negatively.
- Defections from the BSW faction gave SPD and CDU a narrow working majority of 46 of 88 seats, enabling the parties to pursue a rot‑schwarz government despite calls for a fresh vote.
- Nationally, the ZDF Politbarometer shows the Union at 26% and the AfD at 25%, with the SPD at 15%, the Greens at 12% and the Left at 10%, leaving no Schwarz‑Rot majority.
- Politbarometer findings show 69% oppose an AfD minister-president in eastern states and 78% believe President Trump's policies threaten NATO, with 69% favoring an EU stance against U.S. resource‑driven interventions.