CDU candidate Stefan Evers criticized the Berlin Left party, arguing that the city’s housing crisis would worsen if property expropriation were implemented. During a televised debate with Left party candidate Elif Eralp on RTL’s “Nachtjournal Spezial,” Evers stated that construction would decline if homes were nationalized.
According to Evers, the mere debate surrounding expropriation was already having a negative impact. He noted that many real estate companies were avoiding Berlin simply because the discussion of nationalization was ongoing. He suggested that there was a specific party interested in forming a government and actively pursuing such measures. Even his own state-owned housing companies were already questioning the feasibility of such changes in Berlin, warning that doing so would drive down their property values, which in turn would affect rental prices within the state’s own portfolio.
Evers explained that this approach wouldn’t result in a single new apartment; rather, it would prevent the construction of any new housing, thereby driving up rents. He asserted that this outcome is the exact opposite of what is intended. Furthermore, he highlighted that state-owned housing companies frequently collaborated with private businesses to facilitate neighborhood development. While state authorities hold the primary responsibility for social housing, he stressed that housing construction is necessary across all price segments.
