By Stephen Peter
At the weekend, most of Berlin’s state politicians will be going on vacation. Shortly before, SPD faction leader Raed Saleh (46) invited the BZ to the summer interview. Not to his office in the House of Representatives, but to a picnic on Tempelhofer Feld.
Saleh did not choose the location by chance. He has big plans for the area of the former airport: “I myself would prefer to leave the field as it is. However, I recognize the need for us to use the area for future generations – cautiously on the fringes. An eternity guarantee is required for the remaining area. The social aspect must be in the foreground, people with average wages must be able to afford it. It must not happen that luxury lofts are created in the end. Why not a dementia village or senior living on the Tempelhofer Feld? Or a nature daycare center, a workshop for people with disabilities? If our concept is good enough, it could get at least 60 to 65 percent approval in the new referendum, maybe even 70 percent. I am absolutely convinced of that.”
Over apples and raspberry fizz, Saleh talked to BZ about:
► housing policy: “We need a rent cap 2.0! I demand an opening clause from the federal government so that we as the state of Berlin can limit rents and intervene to regulate. And on the subject of energetic refurbishment: it cannot be the case that the tenants end up footing the bill completely. People won’t go along with that. Landlords must contribute to the costs.”
BZ reporter Stefan Peter and the SPD politician on Tempelhofer Feld Photo: Ralf Gunther
► AfD high flight: “I am convinced that in the end the majority of people are reasonable and open to arguments. You have to take their fears seriously and talk to them. Very few of those who vote for the right-wing populists have a closed racist worldview. Many of them voted differently beforehand, CDU, SPD, Left Party. Don’t point fingers at them, listen to them.”
► Zoff about the State budget: “The Neukölln district politicians are very used to attracting attention. That was already the case under Heinz Buschkowsky. These rituals fill the newspaper but just annoy people. We have agreed that there will be two additional 100 million euros for the districts.
► Cooling off in the summer heat: “I really like being at the Groß-Glienicker See. When it comes to ice cream, I love classic vanilla and hazelnuts, but at the moment I’m on a bit of a diet. The Florida ice cream parlor is always nice, or the Mille Fiori in Spandau’s old town.”
► Friendships in politics: “Real friends are actually rather rare in politics, but fortunately I have some.” Is Franziska Giffey one of them? “I appreciate them, we work well together and are friendly.” Could Kai Wegner become a friend? “I work with him professionally.”
► First balance black and red: “We have worked together with the CDU before, back then we were able to buy back the waterworks, stopped the sale of state property to private individuals and started to introduce free education. What we have now achieved bears a strong social democratic signature. In that respect I am satisfied.”
► Chaos about bike lanes? “It’s a communications disaster. Or, to put it very carefully – the communication can still be improved. Just because it was left as it is, there are fewer funds for the cycling infrastructure…”
► Transport Senator Manja Schreiner (CDU): “In fact, I appreciate Ms. Schreiner very much! Because she answers thoughtfully, has the big picture in mind, because she is not an ideologist.”
► his vacation: “Family, family, family. We go for walks, hike, enjoy the time together.”