The Berlin referendum on real estate expropriations passed the ballot test, garnering 56.4 percent of the votes. A more contained figure than the hopes on the eve of city.
The initiative Deutsche Wohnen & Co. enteignen (Expropriate Deutsche Wohnen & Co), proposed to expropriate large real estate groups that own more than 3,000 apartments. Thanks to the success of the referendum, which is not binding from a formal point of view, the Berlin Senate will now be called to “initiate all measures” to draft a law in line with the popular vote and which passes the checks of the German Constitutional Court: already last April the Bundesverfassungsgericht had canceled, with a retroactive ruling, the roof on rents in Berlin that had been set by the junta led by former mayor Michael Mueller, SPD.
“The Berliners have decided: no one is allowed to speculate on our apartments. All together we have shaken the city and politics and we must be happy about it. We activated by the thousands, fought against very powerful opponents and won. They won’t get rid of us that easily, ”said Joanna Kusiak, spokesperson for the referendum committee. «To ignore the result of the consulation – adds Kalle Kunkel, reference point of the group that is fighting for expropriation – would be a political scandal. We will not give up until the socialization of housing is implemented ».
The measure would affect 240,000 apartments, 15% of the real estate assets rented in Berlin and, according to the forecasts of the Senate, the total costs of the operation would amount to approximately 45 billion euros. The intention would be to compensate the properties with bonds, which would be repaid over 40 years from the controlled rental income. Franziska Giffey, newly elected mayor of the capital, was very cautious about the result of the polls, especially regarding the risk that the measure will be rejected under constitutional law.
SPD, CDU, AfD and FDP have always declared themselves against expropriations, while the Greens consider this possibility a last resort, pushing for a shared solution between administration and ownership to contain rents. “There are still many legal and practical issues to be clarified before being able to vote on a law of this type – explained Bettina Jarasch, leader of the Berlin Gruenen and stopped short of victory in the race against Giffey for the political leadership of Berlin – to find a ‘agreement would make much more sense, but the game is now in the hands of the real estate groups: it all depends on their real desire to arrive at a concerted solution ».