BERLIN — Kai Wegner announced on July 4, 2025, that he would not seek re-election in Berlin's September 20 state election. This decision followed an open letter from Christian Democrats (CDU) members appealing for him to withdraw his candidacy.

Wegner cited damaged public trust as a factor. He confirmed a report that he played tennis for an hour with Berlin education minister Katharina Günther-Wunsch following the onset of a power outage in January. The mayor stated his resignation would prevent further weakening of the CDU due to debates about its personnel.

The power outage in January was caused by an arson attack, affecting approximately 45,000 homes and over 2,000 businesses for nearly a week. Wegner told reporters in January that he was working to mitigate the impact of the blackout, which was identified as the longest since the Second World War. "The communication was rubbish and believe me, I am more annoyed about this than anyone else," Wegner said. He added, "Looking back, I should have said on Sunday what I did on Saturday."

Polling data released on July 1 showed Die Linke leading with 20%, followed by the CDU at 17%, and the Social Democrats (SPD) at 13%. These polls indicate that a coalition between the CDU and the SPD is unlikely to achieve a majority in the September vote. Stefan Evers, Berlin's finance senator, who has held the role of culture senator since April, is expected to replace Wegner.

Why It Matters

Kai Wegner's decision not to run for re-election removes the current Mayor of Berlin from the ballot for the upcoming state election. This development occurs in the context of recent polling data suggesting a challenging political landscape for the current coalition. The leadership change follows public discourse surrounding the handling of a power outage earlier in the year.