# Berlin's Proposed Red-Red-Green Coalition Outlines Ambitious Policy Agenda

New government negotiations prioritize social transport, rent caps, and cultural accessibility for residents.

- **Source:** [The Local Germany](https://www.thelocal.de)
- **Published:** 2026-11-11
- **Topic:** [politics](https://brifing.si/c/politics)
- **Original article:** <
            https://www.thelocal.de/20261111/free-museum-sundays-and-a-e9-ticket-berlins-incoming-government-has-bold-plans
        >
- **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/a82cb14a-493b-4032-9290-714e90c4e195

## Coalition Negotiation Framework

Berlin's Left Party, Social Democrats, and Greens are currently negotiating a new red-red-green government, known as R2G. More than 300 individuals are participating in specialist working groups to finalize policy priorities. These groups must transform broad goals into detailed proposals while identifying specific funding sources and potential financial risks for each initiative.

## Social Welfare Priorities

The coalition aims to reintroduce a €9 monthly social transport ticket for benefit recipients, significantly reducing costs from the current €27.50 rate. Additional social measures include increased funding for addiction prevention, supervised drug-consumption rooms, and a new youth culture card. These initiatives reflect a strong focus on supporting vulnerable demographic groups across Berlin.

## Housing Market Interventions

A central pillar of the proposed agenda is the implementation of rent caps at state-owned housing companies. The coalition also intends to strengthen rent oversight mechanisms. Furthermore, the government is considering the ambitious goal of bringing large private housing companies into public ownership, a move that could require approximately €16 billion in loans.

## Infrastructure and Climate Goals

Negotiators are prioritizing urban development through the expansion of cycle paths and dedicated bus lanes. The plan also allocates additional funds for climate adaptation strategies and the city's heating transition. These infrastructure projects aim to modernize the capital while meeting environmental targets, though they must compete for space within the limited budget.

## Cultural and Public Services

The proposed agenda includes the return of free museum Sundays to enhance cultural accessibility for all residents. Beyond arts, the coalition plans to renovate aging police and fire stations to improve public safety infrastructure. These measures are designed to improve daily life and public service quality throughout Berlin's various diverse neighborhoods.

## Digital Access Initiatives

The Social Affairs Administration is launching the Fairgnügen Pass in February to streamline access to discounts. This browser-based system will provide digital proof of eligibility for transport, sporting, and cultural services. By May, this pass is scheduled to become the sole verification method, replacing the existing system currently in use by residents.

## Budgetary Constraints and Risks

Negotiators have earmarked roughly €220 million for new spending, though concerns persist that this amount may be insufficient for the full list of priorities. Working groups are tasked with reviewing current departmental budgets to identify and redirect funding from projects initiated by the outgoing CDU-led government that no longer align with R2G goals.

## Timeline for Implementation

The negotiation process is fast-tracked, with working groups required to report between 21 and 36 days. The first deadline is November 26th, followed by the budget group's deadline on December 11th. Leadership plans to begin a final review on December 16th, aiming to present a completed coalition agreement to the public in January.

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_Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._