NEWS FROM BERLIN
Berlin fines landlord for rent exploitation
The Berlin district of Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg has, for the first time, fined a landlord for charging their tenant an exploitative rent. The tenant was charged 190% over the maximum amount regulated by the local rental index (Mietspiegel). The rental index applies in around 600 local areas across Germany which are considered to have a particularly strained housing market. In the current case, according to local public broadcaster rbb, the landlord submitted an appeal but then retracted her request a day before the hearing on October 9. The tenant now has the option to sue to claim a 22,264.08 euros refund for the rent she overpaid. Source: iamexpat
Habersaathstraße: several apartments in Berlin evacuated
Eleven apartments on Habersaathstraße in Berlin were evacuated on October 20. Up to 130 police officers were on scene. A demonstration by the Leerstand Hab-ich-saath initiative took place parallel to the eviction. The initiative wanted to act against the eviction and prevent former homeless people from losing their homes again. 14 police officers were injured by firecrackers and tear gas, but were able to remain on duty, according to a police spokesperson. In the building there are five tenants with permanent leases. As long as they do not move out, demolition is not permitted. Source: rbb
Thousands demonstrate in the cityscape
At a press conference in Potsdam last week, Merz spoke of a “problem” in the “cityscape” regarding migration. Merz’s “cityscape statement” has been particularly criticised because it allows for a wide range of interpretations—including the xenophobic ones. Around 2,000 people took to the streets in Berlin on October 19 to protest the Chancellor’s “cityscape statement”. Under the slogan “Raise the firewall! We are the cityscape!” the organizers put the demonstration together within 48 hours. The event was supported by Berlin music acts Cesco, Julie Pasquale, and Sechser, from hip-hop group Teuterekordz. Source: taz
NEWS FROM GERMANY
German government announces stricter sanctions for Bürgergeld
Bürgergeld (citizens’ allowance) is a subsistence benefit separate from Germany’s main unemployment benefit (Arbeitslosengeld). It was introduced by the SPD-Greens-FDP coalition in 2022. It was then presented as an attempt to make the benefits system fairer, with fewer sanctions and more support for recipients. From January 2026, though, Bürgergeld recipients who miss two scheduled meetings at the job centre will have their long-term unemployment benefit cut by 30%, as announced by the CDU/CSU-SPD coalition. Recipients who miss three meetings will have their support cut altogether, including any housing benefit (Wohngeld) they receive. “The government’s plans are inhumane and highly legally questionable,” Die Linke Bundestag leader Heidi Reichinnek said. Source: iamexpat
Merz doubles down on “cityscape” statement
Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) reiterated his controversial statement regarding migrants. At a press conference following the two-day CDU leadership retreat, with focus on 2026 state elections, the Chancellor clamied he had nothing to retract. On the contrary, he repeated his remark with vague formulations such as: “Ask your children, ask your daughters, ask around among your friends and acquaintances: everyone confirms that this is a problem, at least after dark.” The exact problem remained unclear. Merz also commented on the demonstration against his statement on October 19, accusing the demonstrators of being more interested in dividing society than solving problems. Source: nd
UN experts urge Germany to halt police violence against Palestinian solidarity activism
On October 16, UN experts released a statement urging Germany 16 to stop criminalising, punishing, and suppressing legitimate Palestinian solidarity activism. “We are alarmed by the persistent pattern of police violence and apparent suppression of Palestine solidarity activism by Germany,” the experts said. They noted that, since October 2023, Germany has escalated and expanded restrictions with regard to Palestinian solidarity activism and protests even though actions have been overall peaceful and used to express legitimate demands, such as calling for halting arms exports to Israel, ending the genocide and the Israeli illegal occupation, ensuring humanitarian aid access to Gaza, and the recognition of the State of Palestine, among others. Source: ohchr
Dispute over broadcasting license fee enters another round
Public broadcasting is repeatedly the subject of criticism in Germany, with the monthly broadcasting fee being a hurdle for many people. But if the program no longer meets the requirements for diversity and balance, would it still be mandatory to pay that fee? A Bavarian woman considered that the public broadcasting was neither balanced nor diverse, so she refused to continue paying the fee. But the Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig issued a landmark ruling stating that the broadcasting fee only becomes unconstitutional if the entire program of public broadcasting grossly fails to ensure diversity of opinion and balance “over a prolonged period.” The lawyer representing the plaintiff said that the ruling was nevertheless a success. The fact that administrative courts are obliged to examine program diversity is good news for citizens’ legal protection. Source: zeit
Citizen’s Allowance: study reveals poverty gap and deprivation
In the current social security debate, Bürgergeld is a major theme. A new study by the Paritätischen Wohlfahrtsverband (Parity Welfare Association) clearly demonstrates how far-removed citizen’s allowance has become from reality and the right to a decent basic social security. For instance, it points out that the reforms of 2023 and 2024, with increases of over 10% each, although considered a relief, represented only compensation for the massive loss of purchasing power since 2021. The study’s authors and the Paritätische Gesamtverband are therefore calling for a structural, permanent, and significant increase in standard rates, as well as an adjustment of basic social security benefits to reflect social, economic, and legal realities. Source: buerger-geld
