Better safe than sorry: Klara Geywitz with a helmet at the end of March on a construction site in Berlin.
Image: dpa
The traffic light government is aiming for 400,000 apartments per year. The first female construction minister since 1998 is supposed to make this possible. Klara Geywitz has already been able to achieve a great deal – but her influence is limited.
Ahen the housing construction day took place in Berlin in mid-February, the roles were clearly assigned. The “Good Cop” was Klara Geywitz (SPD). One billion extra for social housing, better depreciation options, digital building applications: the real estate associations were only too happy to hear what the Federal Building Minister announced on the podium. Then came Economics and Climate Protection Minister Robert Habeck (Greens). Too little energy efficiency, too much CO2emissions, the construction industry is not on course, he complained. Instead of state subsidies, there will be stricter legal requirements. The bad cop had spoken.
It will be different this Wednesday, then Geywitz owns the stage alone – at least as far as the political side is concerned. On the Euref campus in the south of Berlin, the minister invites you to the kick-off meeting for the “Alliance for Affordable Housing”. The SPD, Greens and FDP had agreed the same thing in the coalition agreement at the end of November. And also the goal that 400,000 apartments should be built in Germany every year, an increase of almost 100,000 compared to the status quo. Geywitz rounded up around 50 actors for this. From the Chamber of Engineers to the construction industry and the trade unions to the tenants’ association, everyone is there.