Steffen Krach, the SPD’s top candidate for the Berlin House of Representatives election, made it clear that he will refuse to participate in any coalition that uses expropriation as a condition. Speaking to “Stern,” Krach stated, “If that is the red line for the Left Party, then they need to consider with which coalition they intend to implement it – definitely not with the SPD.”
This comments on the recent demands made by Ines Schwerdtner, the chairperson of the Left Party. Schwerdtner had previously told “Stern” in a podcast that her party’s plans for expropriation constituted a requirement for involvement in a Berlin government. For Schwerdtner, the socialist nature of having the Berlin Left included in government was not debatable, and she views expropriation as a “highly social-democratic undertaking.”
Krach pushed back forcefully against Schwerdtner’s position. “I don’t need Ines Schwerdtner to tell me what is highly social-democratic,” he replied. The Berlin SPD state leader also expressed irritation that a federal party chairman was intervening in regional matters. “I will certainly not accept advice from the federal level regarding coalition negotiations or exploratory talks in any way.”
Krach also criticized a recent initiative by the center-right federal coalition. Earlier in July, their 34-point reform package included a proposal to implement a legal ban on the expropriation of real estate conglomerates. Krach emphasized that he has always opposed using expropriation as a means of housing policy. “I don’t need the federal government to give me a lesson on this topic,” he told the magazine. He argued that the plan unnecessarily reignited debate. “We had better ideas for increasing affordable housing in Berlin, but now they are talking about expropriation again-and I don’t know if that was in the interest of Markus Söder and the others.”
