Berlin Left Party leader files criminal complaint against Interior Minister Dobrindt for defamation
Elif Eralp, lead candidate of Berlin's Left Party, filed a criminal complaint against Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt for defamation and insult. The complaint stems from a September 24, 2026 exchange on the talk show "Maybrit Illner," where Dobrindt responded "Well, yes" after the host misspoke and called Eralp an antisemite. Eralp's lawyer argues Dobrindt adopted the false statement as his own. The complaint follows Dobrindt's prior accusations that the Left Party tolerates antisemites.
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Lawyer Says Calling Left-Wing Politician Elif Eralp an Anti-Semite Is Permissible and Accurate
The article reports that German Left Party (Die Linke) politician Elif Eralp has filed a criminal complaint against CSU politician Alexander Dobrindt. Dobrindt had publicly referred to Eralp as an anti-Semite. Lawyer Joachim Steinhöfel, commenting on the case, stated that the complaint is likely to fail. He argued that it is permissible to call Eralp an anti-Semite and that she indeed is one, asserting that the claim that Dobrindt committed a criminal offense is 'grossly absurd.' The article presents Steinhöfel's opinion as a legal assessment of the situation, noting the complaint's prospects are poor.
Read sourceBerlin Left Party Leader Eralp Files Complaint Over Antisemitism Accusations; Fleischhauer Criticizes Move
Elif Eralp, the leader of the Berlin branch of the Left Party (Die Linke), has initiated legal proceedings against antisemitism allegations made against her. The accusations were reportedly leveled by CSU politician Alexander Dobrindt. In a video commentary for Die Welt, columnist Jan Fleischhauer argues that this legal action is a misguided distraction. Fleischhauer asserts that the Left Party has too many members who are 'clearly antisemitic,' implying that the party should address internal issues rather than pursue legal remedies. The article presents Fleischhauer's opinion as critical of Eralp's approach, suggesting the legal maneuver will not help the party's image or internal problems.
Read sourceCommentary: Elif Eralp Files Criminal Complaint Against Alexander Dobrindt for Defamation
This commentary by Daniel Bax, published on taz.de on September 28, 2026, discusses the filing of a criminal complaint by Elif Eralp, the lead candidate of the Berlin Left Party (Die Linke), against German Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU). The complaint, for defamation and insult, stems from an incident on the talk show 'Maybrit Illner' on September 24, 2026, where Dobrindt allegedly labeled Eralp an 'antisemite.' Bax argues that Dobrindt crossed a line and that the complaint is a necessary 'red card' against the inflationary misuse of the antisemitism accusation for political purposes. The author contends that conservative politicians and media are weaponizing this accusation to undermine the Left Party, which is the only party in the Bundestag critical of Germany's support for Israel's actions in Gaza. Bax warns that this instrumentalization devalues the serious charge of antisemitism and is used to erode the political 'firewall' against the far-right AfD. The piece frames Eralp's legal action as exemplary, as not everyone has the resources to defend against such accusations.
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German Left Party Politician Elif Eralp Files Criminal Complaint Against Minister Dobrindt
Elif Eralp, a Berlin politician from the Left Party (Die Linke), along with her state party association, has filed a criminal complaint for defamation ('übler Nachrede') against German Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, according to her lawyer. The complaint follows a heated exchange on the political talk show 'Maybrit Illner'. The article, published by Die Welt on September 28, 2026, reports the legal action but does not specify the exact statements by Dobrindt that prompted the complaint. The move escalates a political dispute between the Left Party and the conservative CSU politician, who serves as Interior Minister. The outcome of the criminal investigation will depend on the German legal system's assessment of whether Dobrindt's remarks constitute defamation under German law.
German politician Elif Eralp files criminal complaint against minister Alexander Dobrindt for defamation
Berlin politician Elif Eralp of the Left Party (Die Linke) has filed a criminal complaint against Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) following an exchange on the ZDF talk show 'Maybrit Illner' on September 24, 2026. Her lawyer, Jasper Prigge, accuses Dobrindt of defamation and insult under the German criminal code. The complaint centers on a moment when moderator Maybrit Illner misspoke, saying 'Elif Eralp says she is an antisemite... she is not an antisemite,' to which Dobrindt responded 'Well, yes.' Eralp's lawyer argues Dobrindt adopted Illner's slip as his own statement, making a false factual claim that Eralp is an antisemite, which is damaging to her honor and political career. Eralp's party recently won the Berlin state election with 25.7% of the vote, and she is seeking to become governing mayor in a red-green-red coalition. Dobrindt had previously accused the Berlin Left Party of tolerating antisemites and extremists. Eralp has repeatedly distanced herself from antisemitism and violence and affirmed Israel's right to exist.
German Left Party files criminal complaint against Interior Minister Dobrindt over antisemitism remark
The Berlin branch of the German Left Party and its politician Elif Eralp have filed a criminal complaint against Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU), according to their lawyer Jasper Prigge. The complaint alleges that Dobrindt made a statement labeling Eralp an 'antisemite' his own during the ZDF talk show 'Maybrit Illner' on Thursday. During the show, moderator Illner misspoke, saying 'Elif Eralp says she is an antisemite... She is not an antisemite,' to which Dobrindt replied 'Well, yes.' The lawyer argues this constitutes defamation and insult under the German penal code, as the accusation is factually false and damaging to Eralp's integrity as a political officeholder. Eralp's party became the strongest force in the Berlin state election on September 20 with 25.7% of the vote, and she aims to become governing mayor in a red-green-red coalition. Dobrindt had previously accused the Left Party of tolerating antisemites and extremists, while Eralp has distanced herself from antisemitism and affirmed Israel's right to exist.
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