Berlin’s left-wing top candidate, Elif Eralp, presented a comprehensive plan focused on housing, detailing a financing structure for the socialization of large housing portfolios while simultaneously announcing a major expansion of municipal construction. Speaking to Politico, Eralp explained that the compensation required for properties acquired through expropriation would be financed using rental income. She stated that the underlying calculation model was designed to make the costs self-sustaining over time, ensuring it would “amortize” without unduly straining the public budget.
In conjunction with these measures, Eralp committed to establishing a dedicated municipal housing program aiming to build 75,000 units over the next decade. She specified that the initiative would minimize reliance on private developers, noting that these parties had not contributed significantly to building recently, and their housing was often high-priced. Instead, she pledged that state-owned housing corporations and cooperatives would handle the majority of the construction, accounting for “over 80, 90 percent” of the new units.
Separately, Eralp addressed the political climate regarding antisemitism, distancing herself from it within her own party. She affirmed that antisemitism has no place in her party, emphasizing that the right to self-determination for Jewish people is paramount to her, mirroring her commitment to the self-determination rights of Palestinian people.