As an
independent politician, Berger was first elected mayor of
Grimma on 10 June 2001: he received 57.6 percent of the vote as an independent candidate with the nomination from the
Christian Democratic Union (CDU). A year later, Berger became known nationwide with his fight against the effects of the "
flood of the century" on his city. On 8 June 2008, Berger received 98.2 percent of the vote in the mayoral election. On 7 June 2015, he was confirmed in office with almost 90 percent of the vote and on 12 June 2022 with 85.9 percent. Together with
Antje Hermenau, Berger has been involved in the "Citizens' Movement for Saxony" since autumn 2018, a self-described political "collective movement of the centre". On 1 December 2023, Berger was nominated as the top candidate of the State Association of
Free Voters Saxony for the
2024 Saxony state election on 1 September 2024. In the election he was directly elected in the constituency of
Leipzig-Land III. He stood for election as
Minister-President of Saxony and proposed a
technocratic government. == Legal career ==