Pledge to Expropriate 220,000 Apartments... The Rise of Germany’s "Mamdani" in Berlin

Left Party Candidate Gains Popularity with Anti-Capitalist Platform
Eralp, a 45-Year-Old Second-Generation Turkish Immigrant, in the Spotlight

The Left Party (Die Linke), which has pledged to transfer 220,000 apartments owned by major rental operators in Berlin into public ownership, has taken the lead in public support in the German capital. As Elif Eralp, a second-generation immigrant of Turkish descent and the Left Party’s candidate, gains attention, there is growing speculation that “Mamdani-style leftist politics” could emerge in Berlin as well.

Candidate Elif Eralp running as the Left Party representative in the Berlin local elections, Germany. AFP.

According to an analysis by the Financial Times (FT) of data from the German polling agency Wahlrecht on September 17 (local time), as of September 10, support for the Left Party in Berlin stood at 21.9%, outpacing the ruling Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which had 20.5%. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) followed at 17.5%, the Green Party at 16%, and the Social Democratic Party (SPD) trailed at 11.1%.

With the Berlin state parliament election scheduled for September 20, the Left Party is now positioned to potentially become the largest party. The CDU, which traditionally faced a strong leftist electorate in Berlin, won for the first time in more than 20 years in the previous election. However, public dissatisfaction with the current mayor and nationwide complaints about Chancellor Friedrich Merz have combined to weaken its support.

Eralp, the Left Party’s mayoral candidate, is aiming to become the first Turkish-origin mayor of Berlin. Her background as a second-generation immigrant woman, her bold left-wing platform, and her appeal to younger voters have led to frequent comparisons with New York City Councilman Zohran Mamdani. As a member of the Democratic Party, Mamdani became a new symbol of the U.S. left with pledges to reduce housing and living costs.

In fact, Mamdani’s campaign strategist visited Berlin this past spring to advise Eralp and the Left Party on electoral strategies. Last week, Eralp told reporters, “It is an incredible accomplishment that a democratic socialist succeeded in New York, the heart of capitalism,” adding, “We exchanged many ideas.”

Eralp, who is 45 years old this year, was born to leftist parents who left Turkey after the 1980 military coup. She joined the Left Party in 2017. Her signature look includes short bangs, tattoos, hoop earrings, and bright red lipstick. On the campaign trail, she is often seen wearing jeans, sneakers, and a bomber jacket.

The core policy driving the Left Party’s surge in popularity is the public ownership of housing. The party has pledged to expropriate 220,000 apartments owned by large rental operators and convert them into public property. In the 1980s and 1990s, Berlin was famous for vacant spaces, cheap rents, and squatting, which drew artists and techno music lovers, making the city a hub of European counterculture. However, over the past 20 years, as the population grew and private capital poured in, rents have soared.

A view of an apartment complex in Berlin, the capital of Germany, from the outside. Photo by EPA Yonhap News

In a 2021 referendum, 58% of Berliners supported expropriating apartments owned by corporate landlords. Citing this, the Left Party intends to take over about 130,000 units owned by Vonovia, a DAX-listed company and one of Germany’s largest landlords.

Estimates for the costs of expropriation range widely—from 7 billion to 36 billion euros (approximately 11 trillion to 57 trillion won)—and the issue remains highly contentious. However, the Left Party insists that these costs could be gradually recouped through future rental income. Eralp has also pledged to impose rent caps on the 400,000 public housing units owned by the city of Berlin.

Business circles have voiced concerns, warning that implementing the expropriation plan could lead to a flood of lawsuits. Banks pointed out in June that the Left Party is “playing with fire” and warned that the policy could hinder investments and new housing construction.

Even if the Left Party wins the top spot, the Berlin mayor is not directly elected by residents but must be chosen by a parliamentary majority. Therefore, Eralp’s prospects of becoming mayor remain uncertain. If the CDU forms a coalition with other parties to reach a majority, the leading party could be pushed aside.

While some have floated the possibility of an alliance between the federal government and the CDU, Social Democratic Party candidate Steffen Krach, who has strongly opposed the expropriation proposal, is currently facing police searches of his home and office over allegations of corruption related to public contracts, weakening his standing.

Meanwhile, Eralp said she expects to reach an agreement with other left-leaning parties, adding, “In the end, if we become the strongest force in Berlin, our policies will also have won.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.