From Malay Mail · · 2m
Berlin votes on its own mess
Berlin’s election is turning on dirty streets, broken services, high debt, and a city still loved for its culture and edge.
In brief
Berlin’s election is turning on dirty streets, broken services, high debt, and a city still loved for its culture and edge. Berlin’s next government will be judged less by big slogans than by whether it can make basic city services work. Originally reported by Malay Mail.
A gritty campaign
Berlin votes on Sunday with candidates promising cleaner streets, safer playgrounds, repaired bike lanes, and fewer endless construction sites.
“syringe-free playgrounds”
The complaints pile up
Campaign promises center on garbage, graffiti-covered stations, buckled cycling lanes, and a severe shortage of affordable homes.
“forever-building sites”
A loved city strains
Berlin still draws loyalty for its art, lakes, parks, museums, nightlife, start-ups, and history. That affection now sits beside daily anger at poor services.
Bureaucracy drags
Residents have long complained about slow administration. The city’s airport became the symbol, taking almost 15 years to build with Brandenburg state.
Debt bites hard
Berlin relies on support from richer German states and had 2.2 billion euros in debt in late 2024, forcing cuts across public spending.
“poor but sexy”
Public decay shows
Local coverage has highlighted crime hotspots, homelessness, rat-infested police stations, and a university campus closed over safety and structural defects.
“decades of delayed investment and budget cuts in public infrastructure”
Residents clean up
Valeriia Tantcyreva started Sauberberlin after her dog was hurt by broken glass. Her volunteers recently filled a disposal box with discarded syringes.
“No one cares about the city”
City hall pushes back
Officials denied waste-service failures and blamed many residents’ lack of civic responsibility for the garbage problem.
“no operational failures”
Cyclists feel neglected
Bikes make up 18 percent of Berlin trips, but riders say many lanes are narrow, damaged, overgrown, or warped by tree roots.
“outdated, too narrow, overgrown with vegetation and buckled by tree roots”
No clear winner
The next city government will almost certainly be a coalition. The CDU, Die Linke, AfD, and Greens are clustered in the polls, with the SPD behind them.
Old wounds remain
Voters also want the election itself to run properly after the 2021 vote was marred by long queues, missing ballots, and marathon-blocked resupplies.
“chaos city”
The short version
Berlin’s next government will be judged less by big slogans than by whether it can make basic city services work.
