Federal Minister Plans Law to Block Berlin Housing Socialisation, Critics Call It Unconstitutional

Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) revealed key points of a planned federal "investment protection law" on Sunday via Bild-Zeitung, ahead of the source being published on 26 October 2026. Under his proposal, any socialisation of rental apartments would only be permitted where a compelling necessity exists. In the event of expropriation, affected companies would be entitled to immediate cash compensation at full market value, to be determined by independent expert assessment. The measure directly targets Berlin's prospective coalition of Linke, Grüne and SPD, which agreed in exploratory talks to socialise holdings of large real-estate corporations exceeding 10,000 apartments, with total compensation capped at a maximum of €16 billion — well below market value. Elif Eralp, faction leader and lead candidate of Berlin's Left party, called Dobrindt's plan unconstitutional, telling ZDF's Morgenmagazin: "You cannot use a federal law to make impossible what the Basic Law provides for and what Berliners voted for." Greens state chairman Philmon Ghirmai told the Tagesspiegel the move showed "a lack of respect for voters' will." Berlin SPD chief Steffen Krach described Dobrindt as acting "increasingly in an activist and embarrassing manner" and accused the federal government of meddling in the Berlin election campaign with what he called half-baked prohibition ideas.