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Berlin initiative protests federal ban on housing socialization
🇩🇪 Germany /Culture & Society

Berlin initiative protests federal ban on housing socialization

From Die Zeit · () German

Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • An initiative called 'Deutsche Wohnen & Co enteignen' demonstrated in Berlin against the federal government's planned ban on state-level socialization of housing.
  • The group argues that the federal plans interfere with the will of Berliners and are an unacceptable intervention favoring real estate capital.
  • They believe socialization is the most effective way to combat the rent crisis and assert that federal law cannot prohibit state-level socialization without a constitutional amendment.

Supporters of the 'Deutsche Wohnen & Co enteignen' (Expropriate Deutsche Wohnen & Co) initiative staged a protest in Berlin against the federal government's proposed ban on state-level socialization of housing. The demonstration, held outside the SPD party headquarters, Willy-Brandt-Haus, was under the banner 'Hands off the Basic Law.'

These plans by the federal government disregard the will of the people of Berlin.

— Initiative Deutsche Wohnen & Co enteignenThe initiative stated its position on the federal government's housing policy.

The initiative contends that the federal government's plans disregard the democratic will of Berlin's residents and represent an unwelcome intervention driven by the interests of real estate capital. They firmly stated their refusal to accept such interference, asserting that socialization is the most effective strategy for addressing the ongoing rent crisis.

We will not accept this interference in favor of real estate capital.

— Initiative Deutsche Wohnen & Co enteignenThe group expressed its strong opposition to the federal government's proposed housing measures.

The federal governing coalition aims to definitively block considerations, primarily promoted by The Left party, for the expropriation of corporations holding large portfolios of rental properties. According to coalition decisions, a federal law will regulate that the nationalization of private rental housing stocks through state-level socialization laws will no longer be permissible. This move is intended to prevent risks to private housing construction.

Socialization is the best way to combat the rent crisis.

— Initiative Deutsche Wohnen & Co enteignenThe initiative outlined its proposed solution to the housing affordability issue.

However, the 'Deutsche Wohnen & Co enteignen' initiative, which successfully pushed for a referendum on expropriating large real estate companies in Berlin in 2021, disputes the legal feasibility of such a federal ban. Initiative spokesperson Karla Hildebrandt argued that state-level socialization cannot be prohibited by a simple federal law; a constitutional amendment would be required. "We continue to stand clearly for socialization," Hildebrandt declared, reinforcing the group's commitment to their cause.

State-level socializations cannot be prohibited by a simple federal law; a constitutional amendment would be required.

— Karla HildebrandtKarla Hildebrandt, spokesperson for the initiative, challenged the legal basis of the federal government's plan.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Die Zeit in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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