The Berliner Linke has decided to initiate exploratory talks with the Green Party and the SPD. The delegates approved this decision by a large majority during the party conference in Berlin on Friday. According to the resolution, the purpose of these discussions is “to jointly assess whether the political prerequisites for entering into coalition negotiations are in place.”
In addition to the coalition discussions, the candidate for Berliner Linken, Elif Eralp, previously demanded a rent cap for state-owned housing companies. Speaking at the party conference, Eralp stated, “We need a policy that challenges real estate corporations so that people in our city can have a good life. This includes stopping rent gouging and ensuring order in the rental market. This requires a rent cap on state-owned properties, as well as social housing construction.”
The Berliner Linke high-profile candidate further highlighted that the socialization of large housing holdings owned by real estate giants is “self-evident.” Eralp argued that it is unacceptable “to allow our homes to be traded on the stock market, that companies like Vonovia-where we have uncovered countless cases of illegal rent increases-paid one billion euros to their shareholders this year, while tenants cannot afford their weekly grocery shop at the end of the month.” For this reason, she maintained her stance: “Because of this daily cold expropriation of tenants’ incomes, Vonovia and others must finally be socialized.”
Looking at the most recent elections for the Berlin House of Representatives held last Sunday, the Linke garnered 25.7 percent of the votes and emerged as the strongest political force. The CDU, currently in government, followed in second place with 18.8 percent, while the AfD received 16.3 percent. The Greens secured 14.3 percent, and the SPD received 12.1 percent. The BSW and FDP garnered 4.7 and 2.5 percent, respectively.
