In the Berlin debate about the expropriation of large housing companies, Chancellor Olaf Scholz has sided with the Governing Mayor Franziska Giffey (both SPD) and at the same time got involved in the capital’s election campaign. “Expropriations do not create new apartments,” Scholz told the “Tagesspiegel” (online Saturday) to the coalition partners Green and Left in Berlin. They want to implement the popular referendum called for the nationalization of real estate in large corporations: “I think it’s irresponsible to spread the illusion that with a growing population and today’s completely different living conditions, it would be possible to meet the high demand without building new apartments ” said the Chancellor.
The expropriation of large housing companies is one of the most controversial issues in the election campaign for the re-election on February 12. Since April, a commission of experts set up by the Senate has been discussing whether and, if so, how the matter can be implemented. Left top candidate Klaus Lederer had spoken out in favor of presenting a draft law within a maximum of one year if the commission gives the green light. Greens’ top candidate Bettina Jarasch had set the conditions for such a law on Friday and dampened expectations that it could be implemented quickly.
At the same time, Scholz campaigned for Giffey’s re-election. He certified that the city had “overtaken many other countries” and “recently achieved great economic growth”, although it was “challenged by the large increase in population”. “I trust a personality as strong as Franziska Giffey to master it,” said the Chancellor.
At the same time, Scholz renewed the previously unfulfilled promise of the traffic light coalition in the federal government to build 400,000 new apartments every year. “Of course, after everything that’s happened in the world, the current price increases don’t make things any easier,” admitted the Chancellor, but at the same time emphasized: “But that’s not why we’re giving up on our goal. I want to do it, soon in a year To build 400,000 apartments and it should stay that way.” The money for more social housing is available. He appealed to the construction industry to get ready to create more affordable housing.
Tagesspiegel article
