Berlin 2026 state election revives housing expropriation push and sparks quirky poster battles

The 2026 Berlin Abgeordnetenhaus election has reignited debate over the Deutsche Wohnen & Co Enteignen initiative that sought to expropriate large residential property firms. A 2021 referendum had granted a majority for the plan, but implementation stalled. Campaigns by the Left and Greens now again endorse the proposal, aiming to bring the large housing conglomerates under public control.

At the same time, the artist‑collective Bergpartei, led by candidate Esther Borkam, sparked controversy with an early poster campaign. Their handmade placards were placed before the legal posting window, prompting the city’s sanitation department to remove them and levy fines ranging from €10 to €50 per poster. The incident highlights the tension between creative protest and municipal regulations during the election rush.