Issa Remmo attends Berlin Left Party election event, prompting political backlash

Clan figure attends Neukölln election event

Issa Remmo, recognized as the head of the Berlin-based Remmo clan, attended an election night party organized by the district branch of Die Linke in Berlin-Neukölln on 20 September 2026. Speaking to the newspaper Berliner Morgenpost during the event, Remmo expressed satisfaction with the party's performance, stating that he felt supported by a German political party for the first time. Remmo also addressed public discussions regarding allegations of antisemitism within Die Linke, denying that the regional organization harbored hostility toward Jewish people. He added that he would not cast a ballot for any antisemitic politician.

The Berlin Left is not hostile towards Jews.

District leadership rejects ties to Remmo

Following reports of Remmo's presence at the celebration, the Neukölln district leadership of Die Linke moved to clarify the circumstances of his attendance. Jorinde Schulz, a member of the Neukölln district executive board, stated in response to an inquiry from the news agency dpa that the gathering was entirely open to the public, allowing uninvited individuals to enter. Schulz explained that local organizers were not aware of Remmo or his presence at the venue, noting that his name was not included on the official registration list. The district board emphasized that there were no political or personal connections to Remmo, adding that his unannounced appearance at the election party did nothing to alter that reality.

There are neither political nor personal relationships with this person.

Political reactions and coalition questions

Remmo's attendance drew critical reactions from Berlin political figures regarding standards of governance and potential coalition discussions. Berlin Governing Mayor Kai Wegner published a statement on the social media platform X, arguing that any political entity seeking municipal responsibility must demonstrate an unambiguous separation from organized crime networks. Green Party state chair Nina Stahr also voiced irritation during an interview with dpa, urging the state leadership of Die Linke to address the incident directly with district representatives in Neukölln. Stahr stated that clarity regarding both Remmo's presence and recent party debates on antisemitism is required before entering formal negotiations on government formation.

A party that wants to take responsibility for our city must make it unmistakably clear that there can be no proximity to structures that belong to organized crime.

Remmo family background and legal history

The Remmo family arrived in Berlin from Lebanon during the 1980s and has since been connected by German authorities to organized criminal activities. Multiple members of the extended family have been held responsible for criminal offenses across Germany, including the 2017 theft of a 100-kilogram gold coin from Berlin's Bode Museum. In 2019, family members were implicated in the jewel heist at the Green Vault in Dresden. Local representatives of Die Linke maintained that Remmo's uninvited attendance at the public event does not indicate any cooperation with clan structures or tolerance of organized crime.