Berlin CDU top candidate Stefan Evers has sharply criticised the Left Party following the capital’s withdrawal of its bid to become Germany’s national candidate for the Olympic Games. The move was “just a taste of what Berlin can expect from this Left Party”, Evers said on Wednesday. Although the party’s top candidate, Elif Eralp, is not yet in government, the potential damage to the city was already “immense”, he said. By abandoning its Olympic bid, Berlin would lose billions of euros in funding for sport and infrastructure.
According to media reports published on Wednesday, Berlin will withdraw its bid to become Germany’s national Olympic candidate at short notice. Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg and Tagesspiegel reported that the decision was made on Wednesday following consultations at the level of the outgoing Senate, which is currently governed by the CDU and SPD. The Senate has invited journalists to a press conference on Thursday morning. No details were announced in advance.
Following Sunday’s election to the Berlin House of Representatives, the parties are currently negotiating over the formation of a new government. The Left Party, led by Eralp, won the election ahead of the CDU and intends to try to form a three-party coalition with the Greens and SPD. Another possible option would be a three-party coalition led by Evers involving the CDU, Greens and SPD.
The Left Party has also come under criticism following the election, including over allegations of antisemitism. Coalition talks are also being complicated by the party’s plans to expropriate large housing companies.
The Left Party is also opposed to Berlin submitting a bid to host the Olympic Games. Its election victory is therefore considered a factor that has recently weakened Berlin’s chances in the national selection process. Alongside Berlin, Munich and the Cologne-Rhine/Ruhr region are competing to become Germany’s candidate for the 2036, 2040 or 2044 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games. The German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) will decide the matter at an extraordinary general meeting in Baden-Baden on Saturday.
Another significant factor weakening Berlin’s prospects is a report published by the DOSB evaluation commission on Tuesday. According to the report, the bid concepts from Munich and the Cologne-Rhine/Ruhr region perform significantly better in a detailed comparison. The DOSB has said it intends to select the national candidate with the greatest chances at the international level. The final decision on which city or region will host the Olympic Games, however, rests solely with the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
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