Krach Defends U-Bahn Safety Comments Amid Criticism from Comedian

Steffen Krach, the SPD’s top candidate for the Berlin House of Representatives election, has pushed back against criticism regarding his comments on the sense of safety in the Berlin subway.

During the podcast “Jung & Naiv,” Krach stated that he personally feels safe on the subway, but immediately added that this was partly because he is a white, heterosexual man. Comedian and podcaster Felix Lobrecht then challenged Krach, accusing him of being “out of touch” and claiming that a transplant from Hanover inherently doesn’t understand the capital.

In a statement to the news program “Welt” on Friday, Krach responded by saying, “Then he should come and talk to me about it. He also mentioned that I live in Berlin. I have actually been living in Berlin for about 25 years, not just ten. So we could certainly talk about that again. I don’t know who of us uses public transport more, me or him, but one thing must be said very clearly: women are more endangered than men. Jewish men and women are more endangered in many regions than others. Muslim people are also endangered in some districts, and queer people are vulnerable too.”

Krach maintained that he believes these truths must be clearly communicated, and he insists there are facts to back up his claims. “I am happy to speak with Mr. Lobrecht about this,” he added.

Overall, Krach expressed surprise at the critique of his safety perspective. He noted that others are inherently more vulnerable than himself, pointing to “clear statistics.” “That is all I said on the podcast. To see someone getting upset over it irritates me,” Krach commented. Despite this, he promised that as mayor, he would look after everyone in Berlin who is worried about safety-whether in public transport, on the streets, or in schools. He emphasized that this is his duty, confirming that he has clearly stated his commitment to further improving safety in the coming years.