She did not exactly impose herself for this office.

The fact that Klara Geywitz takes over the construction ministry that has yet to be created in the traffic light coalition is one of the surprises of the SPD personnel panel.

After all, there was a candidate, Svenja Schulze, who had already been responsible for part of the upcoming tasks, climate protection in existing buildings, as Environment Minister in the past few years.

Geywitz, on the other hand, is what is commonly referred to as a blank slate in real estate policy.

In her previous position as head of the audit area at the Brandenburg State Audit Office, she was also responsible for construction management. To derive a technical expertise for the management of the Federal Ministry of Construction from this would, however, be an exaggeration. Conversely, the fact that Geywitz was active in the Potsdam squatter scene at a young age does not have to disqualify her for this position.

What has promoted Geywitz above all in her new role - and it is undoubtedly a career leap - is likely to be her closeness to the next Chancellor, Olaf Scholz. In 2019 she was the woman with whom he applied for the SPD party chairmanship, albeit in vain. Both come from Potsdam, both maintain a political style that largely dispenses with emotions. In a political field that has been discussed emotionally for years - rent madness! Real estate sharks! Expropriation! - a sober look at the problems cannot hurt.

It won't be easy for Geywitz.

On the one hand, it has to ensure that the promised 400,000 new apartments are built each year.

And there where they are needed, in the metropolitan areas, even against the resistance of long-time residents and nature conservationists.

At the same time, Geywitz aims to ensure that living remains “affordable” despite the rising CO2 price, despite new requirements for heating replacement and solar systems on roofs.

As is well known, stricter standards are applied in Germany than in other countries.

Surrendering the additional costs to property owners alone cannot be the solution.

Without their willingness to invest, the new construction plans for the traffic light would quickly become obsolete.