Focus on housing policy takes center stage in North Rhine-Westphalia Greens' municipal election campaign - NRW Green party to concentrate on housing policies during local election fights
North Rhine-Westphalia Greens Prioritize Affordable Housing in Municipal Election Campaign
The North Rhine-Westphalia Greens (NRW Greens) have announced their focus on affordable housing in the upcoming municipal elections, slated for September 14. The party seeks to strengthen municipal housing associations, restrict short-term rentals in more congested housing markets through platforms like Airbnb, and promote serial construction for more affordable housing units.
State party leader Yazgülü Zeybek said soaring rental costs have become a significant social concern, while numerous vacant apartments are rented out short-term to tourists. "This situation cannot be ignored," Zeybek asserted, emphasizing the Greens' commitment to finding solutions for families struggling to secure affordable urban housing.
Federal party leader Felix Banaszak underscored the importance of the NRW municipal election, noting a successful outcome would send a crucial signal for future state and municipal elections next year. Despite the recent headwinds facing the Greens nationwide, Banaszak expressed confidence in the party's ability to rise again, as demonstrated by its history of recovery from low points.
In the 2020 municipal elections, the Greens achieved their best result to date in NRW, becoming the strongest party in Cologne, and the second-strongest in Düsseldorf, while winning mayoral posts in Aachen, Bonn, and Wuppertal. The party has also been a partner in the black-green coalition government with the CDU since 2022.
Katharina Droge, the parliamentary faction leader of the Greens, used her speech at the party conference to criticize the new federal government under Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) for making "serious craftsmanship mistakes," such as in negotiations on the debt brake. Regardless, the Greens supported Merz due to the substance of the debt brake relaxation and the approved 500 billion euro special fund for investments, explained Droge.
The party conference also called for the initiation of a ban procedure against the extremist AfD party, citing the need to protect the mandate of the Basic Law and uphold the values upon which democracy is built. Bonn's Green Mayor, Katja Dörner, warned that the AfD aims to undermine democracy from within and pledged that the Greens would prevent this from happening.
The NRW Greens are likely to advocate environmental sustainability, climate protection, social justice, and affordable housing in their municipal election campaign, based on their typical policy priorities in Germany. Potential measures may include expanding social housing, implementing regulations for climate-neutral construction, preventing gentrification, and supporting municipal land policy reforms. However, for precise details on the NRW Greens' 2023 campaign and housing measures, additional, region-specific sources would be required.
The North Rhine-Westphalia Greens have pledged to prioritize environmental sustainability and social justice, specifically focusing on affordable housing in their municipal election campaign. This emphasis includes strengthening municipal housing associations, restricting short-term rentals, promoting serial construction, and advocating for climate-neutral construction and land policy reforms.
