In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania the Social Democrats, the Left and the Greens have cleared the way for a joint state government. The Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) approved the coalition agreement on 14 November 2026 at a special party conference in Güstrow unanimously. The Greens and the Left had already approved the agreement. It would be the first state government formed by these three parties in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
Minister-President Manuela Schwesig intends to stand for re-election in the state parliament in in Schwerin on 16 November. The planned coalition has 39 of the 71 seats. The Alternative for Germany (AfD) holds the remaining 32 seats and would therefore be the only opposition group. Approval of the coalition agreement by the party conferences should be distinguished from the parliamentary election of the minister-president.
The previous state government of the SPD and the Left lost its majority in the state election on 20 September. The parties therefore needed another partner to continue governing under Schwesig. The coalition agreement was due to be signed on the evening of 14 November in Greifswald .
At their party conference in Stralsund the Greens voted in favour of the agreement, with one abstention. The Left had already approved the agreement by a wide majority on 13 November. Schwesig described the result in Güstrow as a strong agreement that bore the SPD’s imprint in many areas. She ruled out cooperation between the planned alliance and the AfD. The Green politician Claudia Müller said her party had achieved a great deal as the smallest partner; at the same time, the agreement was a compromise.
In the coalition agreement, the parties set out plans for the economy, public administration, healthcare and education. They want to ease the burden on businesses through digitalisation and less bureaucracy. Jobs in the public administration are to be cut by 2035. One billion euros is earmarked for modernising hospitals by 2035.
The partners also want to consider introducing a compulsory pre-school year, strengthening maths teaching and recruiting more teachers. A new university campus is planned in Schwerin. They intend to campaign for residents living near wind and solar farms to be exempt from grid charges and to share in the profits. These are policy plans; their implementation is still pending.
Under the proposed allocation of portfolios, the SPD is to hold five ministries, including one led by a non-party member. Two ministries are allocated to the Left and one to the Greens. The head of the State Chancellery is also to be appointed.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).