Michael Müller, Mayor of Berlin: "In matters of immigration, I think we can take advantage of the Buenos Aires experience"

The astonishment of this group of Germans is obvious. They are on the 22nd floor in Belgrano district, the night of autumn, because it is summer, and from the adjoining square, contagious music rises up to the fabulous balcony -terrbade where they entertain themselves with, of course, a barbecue. Among these Germans is Michael Müller, mayor of Berlin, but also a fan of Buenos Aires.

"The most beautiful thing I've seen these days in Buenos Aires … Do you know what? What I've enjoyed most in two or three days since I've been here, that's 39, is the music in every corner, "he told Infobae Cultura as part of the 3rd International Summit of Cultural Cities, held last week in Buenos Aires.

– Yes, this vital feeling, in every corner, that culture plays a role. We were in a milonga and we saw how young people, adults and old people unite to dance … Live that, that different social strata meet, it is simply beautiful.

Social Democrat and responsible for the German capital since 2014, Müller was already making all the stops of the barbecue this Sunday evening: choripán, gizzards, bondiola, bife of chorizo, loin, salads … Finished the most Argentine experiences, l & # 39; 39, a man who governs the destinies of a key city in twentieth-century history, discusses Argentina, Germany, Europe and the politics adopted by extremists.

If Buenos Aires attracted the Italians, the Spaniards, the Germans, the British a century ago, it is today for Colombians and Venezuelans. In Müller, accompanied by the ambbadador of Germany throughout his tour Jürgen Mertenshe is particularly interested in the phenomenon.

"Buenos Aires is an international and open city, immigration has played a role for decades. See how different cultures add up and can integrate into a country or city is something important today in Germany and Berlin. Our two cities receive immigrants. I think we can learn from the Buenos Aires experience"

He is not exactly an immigrant, but Daniel Barenboim has a lot to do with a debate that is now at the center of Europe, surrounded by countries with needs or directly at war. The mere mention of the Argentine orchestra leader illuminates the face of Müller, a jovial 54-year-old German.

"Daniel Barenboim This is extremely important for us in Berlin. As an artist and director, he enjoys tremendous international recognition, which enriches the life of our city. But also because of their international experience, their idea that regions and cultures must meet. He has created a new academy, the Said Academy, a youth academy in which Palestinians, Israelis, Germans and Christians find themselves. They meet and make music together. It's great that Barenboim offers such a platform that unites cultures and regions"

In informal conversations, all of the Mayor's delegations spontaneously confess their fascination for the vitality of Buenos Aires, although all also agree that the noisy world is a world away from silent Berlin. Nevertheless, Müller does not believe that the Argentine capital has anything to learn from German, he prefers to talk about "exchange of experiences" within the framework of the United Cities and Local Governments network ( UCLG), which has been meeting these days in Buenos Aires. .

"The issue of the environment and renewable energy plays an important role for us, we have a lot of experience in this area and maybe Buenos Aires will be able to take advantage of everything we know about it."

Diplomat, says that Buenos Aires is not so noisy, but highlights an essential aspect of the problem. "Buenos Aires has a big challenge in terms of the number of cars coming in and out of the city to work in. I know the head of government is trying to reduce that because it's a heavy burden for the city."

The two capitals have been twinned for 25 years. Is it useful for something concrete? The mayor replied in the affirmative: "We work together in a network of cities and exchange experiences.Our direct badociation facilitates exchange programs in the fields of science, culture and youth. , which are easier to study in both cities. "

The open and rebellious nature of Berlin, combined with its incredible prices, well below those of other capitals, made the torn city the wall that fell in 1989, attracting young people from all over the world. It has lasted two decades, but today it is no longer the case, the city is much more expensive than it was ten years ago. Does this concern the mayor?

"If you consider that it is a metropolis and an international capital, Berlin is still cheap, but of course, it has become more expensive with population growth, because of its economic development, and of course, that's all. "Because there is a lot of city that can not pay the rent, that's why we develop laws to limit or reduce rental costs, so that it does not grow endlessly."

"The question of rising rental prices concerns the 140 mayors of the 140 cities that are part of this network of cities: Moscow, Buenos Aires, Berlin, Paris, Dakar, Johannesburg, it does not matter: all the mayors are worried about the same thing, the increase in rents ".

– If everyone has the same problem, does this mean that there is no solution?

– Yes, of course, there is a solution! You can not find it today for tomorrow, but there are ways to limit or reduce this increase in rents. Different laws, building codes … We see among the mayors of these cities who have an idea, a law that helps to solve this problem. You can learn from others.

Müller returns to immigration, a subject that obsesses him, as it is part of the daily life of the city that he directs. Is the sensitivity of Berliners different from that of Germans in general with regard to immigrants and refugees?

"There are always different positions on the issue of immigration and what it means to receive them for the city, but among Berliners there is a very important consensus that we have to help refugees, we did it in 2015 and 2016, we mainly received Syrians., about 100,000 people, it was a big burden for the city, but we took it back and it was accepted by the Berliners. I think we are different from other cities, especially parts of Eastern Europe, where this is not badumed as naturally as in Berlin."

When the Social Democrat politician talks about "some cities of Eastern Europe", he could also talk about the anti-immigrant positions taken in Germany by Bavarian social Christians and a good deal of it. Christian Democratic Union of the Chancellor Angela Merkel. Or, to speak, of the far right represented by Alternative for Germany (AfD). Nothing that is happening in other countries of Europe.

What was unusual in Germany, which was unusual, was that Merkel at the time occupied the positions of the SPD's social democrats, her partners in the "grand coalition" that governs the country. The opening of his country's doors to hundreds of thousands of immigrants and refugees has led to internal party wear and considerable loss of voice. This decision notably accelerated his departure from the Chancery, which should take place before the planned date of 2021, and the renewal of leadership at the CDU, now in the hands of Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer.

Can we say that in this matter, Merkel was more of a SPD than the SPD itself? Müller, usually a man with quick answers, takes a second to think about this time.

"No … We follow this policy, but it is true that the Minister of Foreign Affairs has gone down this road and we support her, contrary to what her own party did."

– Well, I think for the Chancellor, it was stranger than for us (laughs).

Müller knows that the situation of his party, the SPD of Willy Brandt, Helmut Schmidt and Gerhard SchröderIt's tricky, but stresses that this is not an exclusive problem of German social democracy.

"I think that the situation of socialist parties and social democracy is generally complicated at the global level, some of them succeed better than others, but in France, the Netherlands and Germany we find that we have serious problems: populism and extremism Left and Right capture many people, and more easily, calling for easy answers, easier than what Social Democracy proposes, which is based on engagement and commitment. The compromise may be boring and heavy, and we do not get to many people today, but I believe this commitment is the way for a society. "

Is social democracy too sophisticated for the voter today?

Müller sighs: "Maybe, maybe …"