Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner Re‑nominated as CDU Lead Candidate for State Election

At a CDU Berlin state party conference, incumbent mayor Kai Wegner was confirmed as the party’s lead candidate for the Abgeordnetenhaus election on 20 September. Delegates voted by secret ballot, with Wegner receiving 252 of 272 votes (92.6%). A lone challenger, 85‑year‑old Wolfram Wickert, secured 18 votes while two ballots were blank. Wegner thanked supporters, saying “92.6 percent in a secret vote – that is support,” and affirmed his intention to remain governing mayor.

The nomination comes despite ongoing criticism of Wegner’s handling of a citywide blackout, a funding scandal and the dismissal of state secretary Matthias Hundt. The CDU aims to launch its campaign from an industrial venue in Neukölln, seeking to improve its standing ahead of a tightly contested election where the SPD, Greens and Left Party could form a coalition majority.