A far-left German political party that has pledged to forcibly seize privately owned housing won Berlin’s state elections on September 20.
The party, known as the Left Party, secured 25 percent of the popular vote — up from 12 percent in 2023 — and 47 seats in the 158-member Berlin House of Representatives. As the largest party in the chamber, it holds a strong position to lead the city-state’s next government. The Left Party, alongside the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Green Party, now commands a majority in the assembly.
The Left Party traces its origins to the Socialist Unity Party that governed communist East Germany during the Cold War.
The conservative Alternative for Germany (AfD) party also saw gains, rising to 16 percent of the vote from nine percent in 2023. However, leftist parties have performed more strongly in Berlin than in most other German states. The city currently operates under a coalition government comprising the Christian Democratic Union and the SPD.
The Left Party campaigned on nationalizing housing and forcibly taking rental properties from private owners. Before the election, its lead candidate, Elif Eralp, stated that “the housing issue is the central social issue facing our city, and I will pull out all the stops to make Berlin affordable again and lower rents.” Following the election, Eralp reiterated her party’s commitment to these policies, with coalition negotiations ongoing.
The Left Party is not alone in advocating for nationalized housing. A 2021 referendum showed that nearly 60 percent of voters supported expropriating properties from major real estate companies. The organization behind the referendum estimates that Berlin could forcibly purchase up to 220,000 apartments at prices no higher than 60 percent of their market value — totaling €18 billion.
The Green Party also supports seizing privately owned housing, contributing to pro-nationalization parties holding a near-majority in the Berlin House of Representatives.
Germany’s constitution provides provisions that could enable the Left Party to implement its proposals. Article 15 states that “land, natural resources, and the means of production may be transferred to public ownership or other forms of public enterprise.”
The Left Party’s victory has been interpreted as revealing the true inclinations of political establishment. While media and political elites have vigorously opposed the conservative, pro-national-sovereignty AfD — even calling for its banning — they have largely overlooked a party with a communist heritage that advocates more radical policies.
The elections underscore the significance of constitutional safeguards that limit government and protect fundamental rights. The U.S. Declaration of Independence states that “all men are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,” and government exists to secure these rights. If properly interpreted and enforced, the U.S. Constitution upholds its purpose.
By Peter Rykowski
