Michaels, rubbish and citizen outreach: Elif Eralp, the Left’s top candidate for Berlin, has presented a five-point plan outlining measures she would implement immediately if she became the capital’s Governing Mayor. “The question of rents, we all know this, is the decisive social question of our time,” Eralp said at a press conference in Berlin on Monday. She therefore said she would “of course tackle the housing crisis first.”
At the top of her agenda, Eralp announced that, if elected, she would introduce a rent cap for apartments owned by Berlin’s state-owned housing companies. “Where Berlin itself is the landlord, Berlin can also ensure affordable rents itself,” she said. The state-owned housing companies would have to take the lead in tackling the rent crisis.
She said she would therefore seek a corresponding resolution at one of the first Senate meetings. The freeze would remain in place for one year, after which rents could be increased by a maximum of one percent.
Eralp also announced a “rent profiteering task force” aimed at creating “more law and order in the rental market.” It would initially be established within the Senate administration and would consist of “approximately four employees.” At the same time, a separate authority with around 100 positions would be created to specifically take action against cases of excessive rents. Part of its work would also involve taking action against overpriced furnished apartments, Eralp said.
The Left politician is also planning to introduce an additional free bulky-waste collection day, when rubbish would be collected directly from residents. She also wants to hold discussion formats with citizens in all 56 districts of Berlin and organise a New Year’s reception for homeless people at the Red City Hall. “Not everything will be done tomorrow,” Eralp said of her plan. “But these are five things I want to start with.”
In Berlin, Eralp also addressed the fact that the Left’s plans to expropriate major real estate companies are not included in the five-point plan. “Of course, I will also work towards socialising property ownership from day one,” Eralp said. “Our goal is to present a draft law in the first year.” However, she said she had initially presented the measures “that will take effect very quickly.” Long-term measures would take more time.
The Left wants to replace the CDU at the Red City Hall (Roten Rathaus) and, in a coalition with Eralp, install her as Governing Mayor. The Christian Democrats are currently in a neck-and-neck race with the Left.
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