Berlin: Elif Eralp criticizes Alexander Dobrindt's plans against socialization as unconstitutional

The Left in Berlin is planning to socialize large private housing stock. Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt is reacting to this by making such socializations extremely difficult. The parliamentary group leader and top candidate of the Berlin Left, Elif Eralp, now criticizes Dobrindt's initiative as unconstitutional.

She clearly assumes “that this is unconstitutional. “You cannot make impossible through a federal law what the Basic Law provides and what the people of Berlin voted for,” said Eralp in the ZDF “Morgenmagazin”. “In my view, this law has nothing to do with investment protection,” Eralp continued. It is a law against Berlin tenants. “Of course we won’t accept that.”

According to the Federal Minister of the Interior's plans, among other things, the socialization of rental apartments, for example, should only be possible if there is proof of an imperative necessity. A state government would then have to prove that it has fully exhausted all other means, i.e. investments in and support for housing construction, and that it has no other choice. In addition, in the event of expropriation, compensation should be paid “immediately in money” and, above all, at the market value, which is determined by an appraisal.

"If the market value is set so high, then it is an attempt to prevent socialization." In this way, an attempt is being made to undermine the Basic Law.

Elif Eralp could be the first left-wing mayor to move into the Rothe town hall. After the election to the House of Representatives, her party, as the election winner, negotiated a government alliance with the Greens and the SPD. The parties want to socialize large private housing stocks in Berlin.

As can be seen from their exploratory paper, the parties in the capital want to take action against private housing companies with a portfolio of more than 10,000 apartments. They are planning compensation costs of 16 billion euros, which is likely to be below the market value of the apartments.