Dispute Over Expropriations: CDU Lead Candidate Evers Attacks Left Party Chief Pantisano in Election Campaign

Background: Russian House as a Point of Contention

The Left Party chief reacted calmly to the attacks. Pantisano stated that he would not be put under pressure. He rejected the accusations and emphasized that his party stood for a clear economic policy line. In recent weeks, the Left had repeatedly brought expropriations — for instance in housing construction — into play as a means against rising rents.

Ines Schwerdtner, co-federal chairwoman of the Left, also commented on the accusations. She pointed out that the demand for expropriations was a democratically legitimized instrument that had been used successfully in other European countries. Schwerdtner accused the CDU of distracting from the failures of its own housing policy with populist arguments.

Reaction from the Left

At the center of the debate is the Russian House in Berlin. Evers had previously criticized the site as a propaganda center. The Left had spoken out in favor of the house remaining, which the CDU interpreted as proximity to Russia. Pantisano rejected this interpretation and stated that his party advocated a differentiated Russia policy.

The SPD, the CDU's coalition partner in the current Berlin government, has so far expressed itself cautiously on the mutual accusations. Party representatives pointed out that the question of expropriations should play a subordinate role in the election campaign. At the same time, the SPD signaled its willingness to hold talks on possible housing policy measures.

Economic Concerns

Observers interpret the escalation as a sign of the increasing sharpness of the Berlin election campaign. The topics of expropriation and Russia policy are considered particularly polarizing. Polls currently see the Left in Berlin at around ten percent, while the CDU is being traded as the strongest force.

Economic actors such as the real estate company Vonovia, whose stock has tumbled sharply in recent weeks, are also watching the debate with concern. If expropriations were actually to take place, industry representatives fear massive impacts on the Berlin housing market and on investments in social housing construction.

Outlook for the Further Election Campaign

Pantisano emphasized that the Left saw expropriations not as an end in themselves, but as a last resort. He also called for more investment in social housing construction and criticized the Senate's previous housing policy as inadequate. The CDU, for its part, is campaigning with the slogan "Build Instead of Expropriating" for voter support.

The next election to the Berlin House of Representatives is regarded as setting the course for national politics. Should the Left gain significantly, the debate over expropriations could also gain momentum at the federal level. Evers expressed his conviction that the people of Berlin would ultimately choose a "vernünftige Wirtschaftspolitik".

Pantisano announced that he would continue the election campaign with additional appearances in Berlin's districts. He wanted to listen to people on the ground and take their concerns seriously. Evers, for his part, is planning a major event next weekend at which he intends to present his economic policy proposals.