Berlin Left launches legal action against CDU interior ministers over clan claims

Cease-and-desist notices sent to state ministries

Die Linke in Berlin has initiated legal proceedings against two state interior ministers from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), sending formal warning letters to Jan Redmann of Brandenburg and Roman Poseck of Hesse. Through a retained law firm, the party delivered cease-and-desist notices to both state interior ministries on 30 September 2026. The legal filings set a formal deadline of Friday, 2 October 2026, for the ministries to sign binding declarations committing to cease spreading accusations that link Die Linke to organized crime and antisemitism. The dispute arose after both ministers published commentary evaluating the outcome of the Berlin state election across their official ministerial social media channels.

Social media posts on government accounts

The controversy involves posts published on Instagram across both personal politician profiles and official state ministry channels. Redmann published statements after the election warning of security risks, arguing that organized crime does not stop at state borders and asserting that Brandenburg requires partner authorities in Berlin committed to fighting clan criminals, organized crime, and narcotics trafficking.

That clan bosses and Islamists in Berlin celebrate the election victory of the Left causes great concern, I think, not only to me.

In Hesse, Poseck posted material on the official ministry account addressing what he termed a clan problem of the Berlin Left. A spokesperson for the Hesse Interior Ministry stated that Poseck responded to an earlier video released by the youth wing of the Berlin Left, which had characterized the police as a criminal clan. The spokesperson maintained that the minister acted to provide institutional backing to law enforcement officers rather than to issue a partisan statement. Brandenburg ministry spokesperson Andreas Laux confirmed that his office received the legal filing and is examining its contents, while Hesse officials similarly stated that they would review the submission carefully.

Legal arguments over political competition

Lawyers representing Die Linke argue that the online statements violate the party's legal entitlement to equal opportunity in political competition. The formal legal notices state that using the institutional resources and reach of official ministry accounts to disparage a competing political party oversteps the statutory boundaries governing public relations by state authorities. The legal pushback follows the Berlin state election held on 20 September 2026, where Die Linke emerged as the largest parliamentary group while the CDU suffered substantial seat losses. Die Linke is presently pursuing negotiations to form a three-party governing coalition with the Greens and the Social Democratic Party (SPD), aiming to elect lead candidate Elif Eralp as Governing Mayor of Berlin.

Dispute over Neukölln election gathering

The remarks by the CDU ministers referenced events at an election night gathering held by Die Linke in the Berlin district of Neukölln. Reports indicated that Issa Remmo, identified as the head of an Arab clan involved in criminal activities, attended the party alongside Ibrahim Ibrahim, an activist associated with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, an entity designated as a terrorist organization by the European Union. In response to the allegations, party leaders of Die Linke stated repeatedly that the organization maintains no ties to organized crime, stands firmly for the protection of Jewish life, and recognizes the right of the State of Israel to exist. The party confirmed that it is preparing further legal actions against other political figures who made similar allegations on social media.