Justice Minister Hubig sees “many question marks” regarding the law against expropriations

Federal Minister of Justice Stefanie Hubig still sees a significant need for clarification regarding the law planned by the federal government to make socialization more difficult, as is planned in Berlin.

"There are still many question marks - and of course the debate is not over. I take the constitutional and political concerns about the project seriously," said the SPD politician to the "Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger".

At the same time, Hubig made it clear that she was not ignoring the law. "At the same time, it is clear to me: If something has been decided in the coalition committee, then everyone is well advised to get involved constructively and work together in a spirit of trust. That is my line," she emphasized.

According to the federal government, key points for the law have been completed. Among other things, socialization of rental apartments, for example, should only be possible if it can be proven that this is absolutely necessary and all other means such as investments and funding for housing construction have been exhausted. Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) told the “Bild” newspaper: “We will make it clear in an investment protection law that arbitrary left-wing socialization fetish is incompatible with the Basic Law.”

The Minister of Justice considers the Berlin route to be unsuitable

The desired coalition of the Left, the Greens and the SPD in Berlin wants to socialize large private housing stocks. 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.

Hubig considers the approach of the Left, the Greens and the SPD in Berlin to be unsuitable. In the interview, she also referred to the billions in compensation needed and years of legal uncertainty. "It would be better to invest the money in building new affordable apartments. We also need to further strengthen our social tenancy law," she said about possible alternatives.

The SPD workers' wing sharply criticizes Dobrindt's plans for socialization

The chairwoman of the SPD workers' wing, Cansel Kiziltepe, in turn sharply criticized Dobrindt's plans. “With his legally shaky proposal for an anti-corporation law, Alexander Dobrindt shows that the Union puts the interests of large real estate groups above our basic law,” Kiziltepe told the AFP news agency on Tuesday. “Instead of respect for a democratic decision, he wants a guaranteed return for the housing industry.”

Kiziltepe called it “bitter that our Interior Minister is so obviously violating the social principles of our constitution.” The Berlin Social Senator added: “The possibility of transferring land into common property for the purpose of socialization is a conscious decision by the mothers and fathers of the Basic Law.”

It is clear to them: “Housing must serve people, not investors’ returns,” Kiziltepe told AFP. What is needed in Berlin is more non-profit and public housing, strong protection for tenants and effective instruments to combat rapidly rising rents. “It is precisely for this reason that Berliners have spoken out in favor of socialization,” emphasized the chairwoman of the Working Group for Work (Afa) in the SPD.