Germany heads into Sunday’s elections facing two different situations: Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, where the economy is undergoing a significant transformation, and Berlin, which is grappling with mounting housing difficulties. Despite their differences, both races center on the same issue: whether economic growth is bringing tangible improvements to citizens’ lives.
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In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, a state in the former East Germany, investment in recent years has significantly changed the structure of the economy. Tourism, energy, shipbuilding and industry are giving the region a new identity, weakening the long-held perception that it had fallen behind the western part of the country.
Since 2020, the local economy has grown faster than the national average. Sectors driving this development include large-scale agriculture, tourism along the Baltic Sea coast, energy infrastructure and renewable energy projects.
Energy has played a particular role in this transformation. For many years, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania was closely tied to natural gas infrastructure and the Nord Stream project. After moving away from dependence on Russian energy, the region has focused on LNG terminals and renewable energy, seeking to turn the shift in its energy model into an economic opportunity.
However, this progress has not eliminated political discontent. The AfD has expanded its support in the region, while some voters are concerned that citizens have not always been included in decision-making on economic and social transformations.
Deutsche Welle’s latest poll puts the SPD, led by Manuela Schwesig, close to the AfD in the election race. The result shows that economic performance, while important, is not the only factor influencing voters’ choices.
In Berlin, the challenges are of a different nature. The German capital has expanded rapidly thanks to start-ups, the technology industry, investment and the arrival of thousands of workers from other countries.
But the city’s growth has placed considerable pressure on the housing market. Rents have risen, and for many residents Berlin is becoming increasingly difficult to afford.
As a result, the housing crisis has become one of the campaign’s main issues. The debate centers on how much the state should intervene in the real estate market.
Die Linke has made the proposed nationalization of large property companies a central part of its platform. Elif Eralp, the party’s lead candidate and a lawyer, says bringing thousands of apartments under the control of the state of Berlin would give the authorities an opportunity to influence rents and curb speculation.
The plan calls for large private companies to be compensated, while the properties would be managed by a public housing agency. Eralp estimates that implementing the project would require between €8 billion and €18 billion. It would be financed mainly through long-term borrowing and rental income.
The proposal has been opposed by critics, who question both its cost and how it would be implemented in practice.
The elections in the two regions therefore reflect two of the realities of Germany today. Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is seeking to combine economic growth with renewed trust in politics, while Berlin must find ways to prevent the city’s development from turning everyday life into an unaffordable burden for residents.
Sunday’s vote is expected to show how German citizens view economic change: as an opportunity for the future or as a new source of uncertainty.
