🇩🇪 Germany – Wednesday, 30 September 2026 **Linke moves to scrap Olympic bid** Ahead of the coalition talks reported yesterday, Berlin's Linke announced plans to withdraw the city's bid for the 2036, 2040 or 2044 Olympics, with top candidate Elif Eralp calling the 6 million euros already spent "a waste of taxpayers' money."

The Left Berlin

News from Berlin and Germany, 30 September 2026

Weekly news round-up from Berlin and Germany

**Linke lawmaker suspends duties** Berlin Linke politician Ferat Koçak suspended his parliamentary duties after criticism over contacts with organized-crime figures, a complication for the party as it heads into three-way coalition talks. Separately, Chancellor Merz is pushing ahead with legislation banning expropriation of large housing firms, aimed at roughly 240,000 units.

The Left Berlin

News from Berlin and Germany, 30 September 2026

Weekly news round-up from Berlin and Germany

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