Left Party wins Berlin election; Elif Eralp set to become first mayor with Turkish roots
The Left Party (Die Linke) won the 2026 Berlin state election with 25.7% of the vote, placing first by a wide margin. Lead candidate Elif Eralp, a 45-year-old daughter of Turkish political refugees, is poised to become Berlin's first governing mayor with a migration background and Turkish roots. Eralp has announced plans to expropriate real estate companies and promised to unite Berliners suffering from the housing crisis. The victory has been celebrated in Turkish media, but the party faces persistent suspicion of antisemitism and internal anti-Israel factions that could complicate coalition-building.
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Berlin Deserves This Mayor: Socialist Victory Could Break Firewall and Enable Non-Left Majorities
An opinion article from Die Welt argues that the election of Elif Eralp, the lead candidate of the Left Party (Linkspartei) and winner in Berlin, as mayor would be bad news for the city itself but presents an opportunity for the rest of Germany. The author contends that a socialist mayor would dismantle the so-called 'Brandmauer' (firewall) against the political right, making non-left governing majorities possible at the national level. The piece frames Eralp's victory as a strategic turning point that could reshape coalition dynamics in Germany, despite the perceived negative local consequences for Berlin.
Read sourceBerlin Left Party Wins Landslide, Elif Eralp Poised to Become Mayor Amid Antisemitism Concerns
The Berlin branch of the Left Party (Die Linke) achieved a landslide victory in the 2026 Berlin state election, winning 25.7% of the vote. Lead candidate Elif Eralp, a 45-year-old daughter of Turkish political refugees, is likely to become the next Governing Mayor of Berlin. The article, published by taz.de on September 21, 2026, reports that Eralp successfully mobilized a broad, post-migrant coalition, including many first-time voters and people from Turkish, Kurdish, and Roma communities. Her victory party in Kreuzberg featured Turkish and Kurdish music and dancing, symbolizing the city's diversity. However, the article notes that the Berlin Left Party remains under a persistent suspicion of antisemitism. Eralp has promised to unite all Berliners suffering from the housing crisis and to ensure that long-term residents are no longer treated as foreigners. The analysis is attributed to journalists Daniel Bax, Erik Peter, and Uta Schleiermacher, with quotes from Eralp, TBB spokesperson Ayșe Demir, and activist Hamze Bytyçi.
Read sourceTurkish Candidate Elif Eralp Wins Berlin Election, Celebrated as Historic Figure in Turkey
Elif Eralp, the lead candidate for the Left Party (Die Linke) in Berlin, has achieved a historic victory in the election to the Berlin House of Representatives. According to the state election authority, the Left Party secured approximately 25.7% of the vote, placing first with a significant lead. Eralp is poised to become Berlin's first female governing mayor with a migration background, and the first with Turkish roots. Her parents fled Turkey as socialist and trade union activists after the 1980 military coup; Eralp was born in Munich in 1981. The victory has been widely celebrated in Turkish media, with outlets like Halk TV and Sözcü highlighting her Turkish heritage and framing the result as a historic achievement. Eralp herself addressed supporters in Turkish, stating, 'We have made history, friends.' She also declared that 'love and justice have won over hate' in Berlin. The result ends the previous black-red coalition in the city and opens the door for the Left Party to enter negotiations to form a new Senate.
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Left Party's Elif Eralp Claims Berlin Mayor's Office, Declares Victory of Love Over Hate
Following the election in Berlin, Elif Eralp, the lead candidate of the Left Party, has claimed the office of Governing Mayor for herself. In her victory speech, Eralp emphasized her goal of creating an affordable Berlin and declared that 'love and justice have triumphed over hate.' The article, published by Die Welt on September 20, 2026, reports on her assertion of victory and the themes of her address, though it does not provide specific vote counts or confirmation from electoral authorities. The report attributes the claim and statements directly to Eralp, presenting them as her declared position following the election.
Left Party wins historic Berlin election; mayor plans expropriations, faces anti-Israel opposition
According to Die Welt, the Left Party is celebrating a historic victory in Berlin, with lead candidate Elif Eralp set to become Governing Mayor. Eralp has announced plans to expropriate real estate companies as part of her policy agenda. However, the article notes that anti-Israel factions within her own party could pose obstacles to her government plans, potentially complicating coalition-building and policy implementation. The victory is described as transformative for the Left Party, marking a significant shift in Berlin's political landscape.
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