Berlin election winner Elif Eralp faces scrutiny over past membership in Rote Hilfe

Scrutiny over past membership

Following the 20 September 2026 Berlin state election, reports published by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung revealed that Die Linke lead candidate Elif Eralp previously belonged to the organization Rote Hilfe. Die Linke Berlin state headquarters confirmed that Eralp was a member until 2025. According to party statements, Eralp joined during her law studies to support legal aid for individuals engaged in left-wing and social causes who lacked financial resources.

The party stated that Eralp remained a passive member for years and disclosed the affiliation on her official Berlin House of Representatives profile before resigning in 2025 due to political differences. The revelation followed Die Linke's election victory, in which the party secured nearly 26% of the vote, finishing ahead of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). Eralp was nominated as lead candidate in October 2025 and is preparing for exploratory talks to form a state government with the Greens and the Social Democratic Party (SPD).

Intelligence assessment and organization background

The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution has monitored Rote Hilfe since 2012, designating it as the largest and most significant group within German left-wing extremism. According to intelligence reports, the primary activity of the organization is supporting left-wing extremist offenders who face court proceedings or imprisonment. Intelligence findings state that the group provides financial assistance for legal fees, fines, and penalties, while refusing aid if a defendant cooperates with authorities or apologizes in court.

Rote Hilfe was founded on 26 January 1975, initiated by the Marxist-Leninist Communist Party of Germany (KPD/ML), and maintains its headquarters in Göttingen. The organization describes its mission on its website:

State repression affects individuals, but targets the entire movement. Rote Hilfe is a cross-current solidarity organization for all leftists. It stands in solidarity with those who are politically persecuted and counters state criminalization with the principle of collective solidarity.

The organization paid approximately 220,000 euros in individual case assistance in 2019. Its membership grew from 8,500 in 2017 to approximately 19,800 in 2026, making it the largest organization in the German left-wing scene.

Political reactions and coalition discussions

The disclosure prompted criticism from conservative politicians as coalition talks approach in Berlin. CDU Parliamentary State Secretary Gitta Connemann urged the SPD and Greens to reject any coalition with Die Linke under Eralp's leadership, asserting that membership in a monitored group showed disregard for the rule of law.

Neither the SPD nor the Greens can form a coalition with someone like that if they do not want to bid farewell to the political centre.

Connemann also supported statements by Bavarian Minister-President Markus Söder regarding potential financial consequences for Berlin. Scrutiny has also focused on other recent events surrounding Die Linke, including the presence of an Arab clan figure and a controversial pro-Palestinian activist at a post-election celebration in Neukölln. Die Linke member of parliament Ferat Koçak has faced scrutiny over connections to clan circles. Despite the criticism, exploratory discussions between Die Linke, the Greens, and the SPD remain scheduled to determine the formation of the next Senate of Berlin.