Berlin's SPD plans expropriation law - CDU vehemently defends itself!

Berlin's SPD plans expropriation law - CDU vehemently defends itself!

Berlin, Deutschland - In Berlin it is once again bubbling. The red-red-green coalition has presented a new draft law to socialize apartments and means of production that heats the minds. The Welt House of Representatives submitted a proposal to create a "socialization authority". This authority should be responsible for the socialization of real estate and other means of production. The debate is particularly well known by the 2021 referendum, in which 59% of the voters voted for the socialization of large real estate companies.

A central point of the SPD design is a concept for expropriation. According to the draft law, compensation for expropriated owners could be below the market value, which the CDU criticizes in the highest tones. Berlin's governing mayor Kai Wegner (CDU) has emphasized that there will be no expropriations under his leadership, since this could damage Berlin, unsettle investors and actually endanger jobs. The Secretary General of the Berlin CDU, Ottilie Klein, also expresses anything but enthusiastic about the plans of the SPD and accuses her of walking on a dangerous path. According to their opinion, the intentions of the SPD are not clear, and a wide CDU front is formed against the draft law, as also the Tagesspiegel determined.

The details of the draft law

The design not only provides for the expropriation of property owners, but also from companies that offer goods and services in Berlin. The "elementary areas of general interest" that could be affected include living space, energy supply, waste disposal and public transport services. The SPD argues that these measures could enable social market regulation and to contain usury rents in the capital, which considers the parliamentary group leader Raed Saleh to be absolutely necessary.

However, the realization of the draft law could take until 2026. Saleh himself makes it clear that his faction does not want to expropriate anyone, but does not ignore the possibility that expropriations could serve as part of the "instrument box". The draft law is to be brought into the House of Representatives by mid -December 2023, and subject to approval, the law could come into force at the earliest two years after its announcement.

the look ahead

The argument about socialization shows how strongly the opinions about the right way in housing policy differ. While the SPD insists on social justice and regulating rental prices, the CDU fears for the economic stability and trust of investors in Berlin. For the citizens in the capital, it is to be hoped that a sustainable compromise will be found in the end.