Berlin SPD Urges CDU to Advance Expo 2035 Bid Plans

Berlin's Social Democratic Party (SPD) is intensifying pressure on the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) to formally consider a bid for Expo 2035. The SPD has called for an extraordinary coalition committee meeting in the first week of June to discuss the potential hosting of the World Exhibition.

This move follows the SPD's state executive committee's January decision to back a bid and urge the Senate to engage in talks with neighboring Brandenburg for a joint application. SPD lead candidate Steffen Krach has repeatedly emphasized the Expo's potential to drive development across the entire metropolitan region, citing opportunities for infrastructure investment, new housing, economic stimulus, and urban modernization.

However, critics have accused Berlin's Governing Mayor Kai Wegner (CDU) of not demonstrating sufficient commitment to the Expo bid. Wegner has previously stated his priority lies with Berlin's bid for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. While he has since expressed support for a joint bid with Brandenburg, concrete progress has been limited.

The coalition committee meeting is also slated to address the integration of subsidiary companies within the Vivantes clinic group. In April, both CDU and SPD parliamentary groups called for the "quickest possible integration" of these subsidiaries, which employ around 2,200 people in areas like logistics, cleaning, and catering. The Verdi trade union is advocating for these employees to receive a collective agreement that mirrors the public sector wage agreement (TVÖD-K).