The federal chairwoman of the German Left Party (Die Linke), Ines Schwerdtner, has made her party's expropriation plans a condition for participating in any government coalition in Berlin, Germany.
There will be socialization with the Berlin Left in government.
— Ines Schwerdtner, federal chairwoman of the German Left Party
Schwerdtner said that is not a question for the party. She argued that part of the apartments must be withdrawn from market logic again and described the plan as an original social democratic project.
The election for the Berlin House of Representatives (Abgeordnetenhaus) is scheduled to take place on September 20. Around five years ago, the initiative "Deutsche Wohnen & Co enteignen" won a referendum in Berlin for the socialization of large real estate corporations, but the demands were not implemented.
21% poll share
The Left leads according to a Civey poll for Tagesspiegel.
A poll cited by S2 gives the Left 21%, followed by the CDU at 18%, the Greens at 17%, and the SPD at 12%. According to a Civey poll for the Tagesspiegel, the CDU trails with 19%, the AfD follows with 18%, and the Greens with 17%. Different sources report different polling figures for the Berlin election.
Berlin SPD top candidate Steffen Krach made clear that the SPD would not support expropriations. He noted that the Left has co-governed in Berlin for 17 of the last 25 years and called the promises to fight rent usury and expropriate "clumsy populism".
Krach also claimed that Elif Eralp, the Left's top candidate in Berlin, stated on a podium that the city does not need new construction. Schwerdtner responded that if she were in the SPD's shoes, she would be "a tad more humble".
Schwerdtner also distanced herself from statements by her co-chairman Luigi Pantisano, who had equated the CDU with the AfD and fascists. She said that was a mistake and that he admitted it.
Updates
The German Left Party (Die Linke) has officially included the compensated socialization of large housing corporations in its program for the September 20 Berlin House of Representatives election. Meanwhile, a Civey poll shows Die Linke gaining two percentage points compared to early July, while the AfD rose by one point and the Greens remained unchanged. SPD top candidate Steffen Krach responded to the Left's stance by labeling their promises as 'clumsy populism' and advocated for new construction instead.
Die Linke has officially included the compensation-based socialization of large housing corporations in its program for the upcoming Berlin House of Representatives election. Meanwhile, a Civey poll shows Die Linke has gained two percentage points since early July, while the AfD rose by one percentage point and the Greens remained unchanged. Berlin SPD candidate Steffen Krach criticized Die Linke's proposals as 'clumsy populism' and expressed support for new construction.
Die Linke has formally included the compensated socialization of large housing corporations in its program for the September 20 Berlin House of Representatives election, with federal chairwoman Ines Schwerdtner stating this is necessary to keep rents stable. Meanwhile, a Civey poll shows Die Linke gaining two percentage points since early July, while the AfD rose by one percentage point and the Greens remained unchanged. SPD top candidate Steffen Krach has criticized the Left's proposals as 'clumsy populism' and expressed support for new construction.
Die Linke has officially included the compensated socialization of large housing corporations in its program for the September 20 Berlin House of Representatives election. Meanwhile, a Civey poll shows the party has gained two percentage points since early July, while the AfD rose by one percentage point and the Greens remained unchanged.
The German Left Party has formally included the compensation-based socialization of large housing corporations in its program for the September 20 Berlin House of Representatives election. Meanwhile, a Civey poll shows the party gained two percentage points since early July, while the AfD rose by one percentage point and the Greens remained unchanged. SPD top candidate Steffen Krach criticized the Left's proposals as 'clumsy populism' and expressed support for new construction.
The German Left Party (Die Linke) has officially included the socialization of large housing corporations with compensation in its program for the upcoming Berlin House of Representatives election. Meanwhile, a Civey poll shows the party has gained two percentage points compared to early July, while the AfD rose by one percentage point and the Greens remained unchanged. Berlin SPD candidate Steffen Krach criticized the Left's proposals as 'clumsy populism' and emphasized his support for new construction.
The German Left Party has formally included the compensated socialization of large housing corporations in its program for the upcoming Berlin House of Representatives election on September 20. Meanwhile, recent Civey polling shows the Left Party gaining two percentage points compared to early July, while the AfD gained one percentage point and the Greens remained unchanged. Berlin SPD candidate Steffen Krach has countered the Left Party's stance by labeling their promises as 'clumsy populism' and advocating for new construction instead.
Ines Schwerdtner reaffirmed the Left Party’s firm stance on socializing large housing corporations with compensation to stabilize rents long-term, while SPD’s Steffen Krach dismissed the plan as 'clumsy populism' and criticized its rivals for avoiding responsibility for Berlin’s housing failures over 37 years — even as new Civey polling shows the Left Party gained two percentage points since early July, while the AfD rose one point and the Greens held steady.
Ines Schwerdtner reaffirmed the Left Party’s firm commitment to socializing large housing corporations with compensation to stabilize rents long-term, while SPD’s Steffen Krach dismissed the plan as 'clumsy populism' and criticized the Left for ignoring the need for new construction, calling Elif Eralp’s stance 'fatal'—a sharp escalation in rhetoric; meanwhile, a Civey poll for Tagesspiegel showed the Left gaining two percentage points since early July, while the AfD rose one point and the Greens held steady.
Ines Schwerdtner reaffirmed the Left Party’s firm stance on socializing large housing corporations with compensation to stabilize rents long-term, noting that many Social Democrats share this view—while SPD’s Steffen Krach dismissed the proposal as 'clumsy populism' and criticized Left Party leader Elif Eralp’s opposition to new construction as 'fatal,' even as he admitted his own party has not done 'everything right' in housing over 37 years; meanwhile, a Civey poll for Tagesspiegel showed the Left Party gaining two percentage points since early July, while the AfD rose one point and the Greens remained unchanged.
Following the initial report, Ines Schwerdtner reaffirmed that socialization of large housing corporations is non-negotiable for her party’s coalition participation, while Berlin SPD leader Steffen Krach explicitly ruled out any alliance with the Left if expropriation remains a condition, calling it 'clumsy populism' and insisting the SPD will not accept federal interference in state-level negotiations — a stance now hardened by his public rejection of expropriation as a housing policy tool, even as the Left’s poll numbers rose two points and both Green and SPD programs reaffirmed support for the 'Deutsche Wohnen & Co. enteignen' referendum, albeit without making it a coalition ultimatum.
Following the initial report, Ines Schwerdtner reaffirmed that socialization of large housing corporations is non-negotiable for her party’s coalition participation, while Berlin SPD leader Steffen Krach explicitly ruled out any alliance with the Left if expropriation remains a condition, calling it 'clumsy populism' and insisting the SPD will not accept federal interference in state-level negotiations — a stance reinforced by his criticism of the federal government’s recent legal ban on expropriations, which he opposes. Meanwhile, new polling shows the Left gained two percentage points, while the Greens confirmed their support for the expropriation referendum but rejected it as a coalition硬
The German Left Party has gained two percentage points in a Civey poll for Tagesspiegel, rising to 21% — its highest level — while the SPD’s Steffen Krach reiterated his refusal to join any coalition that demands expropriation, calling it 'clumsy populism' and stressing he will not accept federal interference in Berlin coalition talks, even as Left leader Ines Schwerdtner affirmed socialization is non-negotiable for her party’s participation in government.
The German Left Party (Die Linke) has gained two percentage points in a Civey poll for Tagesspiegel, rising to 21%—now leading Berlin’s party rankings—while the SPD’s Steffen Krach reiterated his refusal to join any coalition that demands expropriation, calling it 'clumsy populism' and insisting the federal Left’s interference in state negotiations is unacceptable, even as the Greens affirmed support for the expropriation referendum but rejected it as a non-negotiable coalition condition.
The German Left Party’s support has risen to 21% in a new Civey poll for Tagesspiegel, a two-point increase since early July, while the SPD’s Steffen Krach reaffirmed his party’s refusal to join any coalition that demands expropriation of large housing corporations, calling such demands 'clumsy populism' and insisting the federal Left’s interference in state negotiations is unacceptable — a stance directly contradicting Ines Schwerdtner’s assertion that socialization is non-negotiable for a Left-led government.
