German Left Party files constitutional complaint against CDU minister over Instagram post
The German Left Party (Die Linke) has filed a lawsuit at the Federal Constitutional Court against Economy Minister Katherina Reiche (CDU) over an Instagram post accusing the party of antisemitism. The party has also sent cease-and-desist letters to interior ministers in several states, including Baden-Württemberg and Saxony, over similar remarks. Saxony's ministry deleted its post after legal action. The legal campaign follows the Left Party's victory in the Berlin state election on September 20, with top candidate Elif Eralp seeking to become governing mayor.
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German Left Party sues Economy Minister Reiche at Constitutional Court over Instagram post
The German Left Party (Die Linke) has filed a lawsuit at the Federal Constitutional Court against Economy Minister Katherina Reiche (CDU) over a statement she posted on the ministry's official Instagram account. The post included a quote from a speech: 'Antisemitism and expropriation endanger Germany and the economy.' The Left Party had previously demanded a cease-and-desist declaration, which Reiche allowed to expire. The Berlin branch of the Left Party described the situation as a 'large-scale campaign' by the CDU against their top candidate, Elif Eralp. Reiche has also warned that a left-wing coalition government in Berlin would pose a danger to Germany's investment and business environment. This is not the first such legal action by the Left Party; it has also sued CDU-led interior ministries in several German states over similar statements made on official channels. Some states have retracted the statements, while others have not.
Read sourceBerlin Left Party Sends Legal Demand to CDU Minister Over 'Clan Mayor' Remark
The Berlin branch of the Left Party (Die Linke) is escalating a legal conflict with Baden-Württemberg's Interior Minister Manuel Hagel (CDU). A law firm has sent Hagel a cease-and-desist letter, demanding he refrain from repeating certain statements. The letter, seen by the German Press Agency, argues that Hagel, acting in his official capacity, violated the principle of equal opportunity in political competition by linking the Left Party's top candidate, Elif Eralp, to criminal clans. Hagel had offered Berlin police officers the chance to transfer to Baden-Württemberg following the Left Party's electoral success in Berlin, stating: 'The Berlin police are too good for a left-wing clan mayor who wants to take away their means and powers.' Hagel's office has indicated he will not sign the undertaking. The Left Party is also pursuing legal action against other politicians who made similar accusations on social media. The Left Party won the Berlin state election on September 20 and is seeking to form a coalition with the Greens and SPD to make Eralp the governing mayor.
Saxony Interior Ministry Deletes Post About Berlin Left Party After Legal Action
The Saxon Interior Ministry deleted a controversial social media post about the Berlin branch of the Left Party (Die Linke) after the party took legal action. The post, published on Instagram and X by Interior Minister Armin Schuster (CDU), followed the Left Party's electoral victory in Berlin and described it as a 'slap in the face of upright citizens,' referencing issues of antisemitism and proximity to criminal clans. The Left Party demanded a cease-and-desist declaration by October 2 through a law firm. Schuster defended the post, stating he intended to warn against political influence by criminal clans and that it was his duty to take a clear stance against clan crime, extremism, and antisemitism. The Berlin Left Party is also pursuing similar legal action against other politicians, including Federal Economics Minister Katherina Reiche (CDU) and interior ministers of other states like Brandenburg.
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Berlin Left Party Takes Legal Action Against Politicians Over Election Victory Remarks
The Berlin branch of the Left Party (Die Linke) is pursuing legal action against several politicians following its victory in the Berlin state election on September 20. The party has demanded a cease-and-desist declaration from Saxony's Interior Minister Armin Schuster (CDU), who called the Left's win a 'slap in the face of upright citizens' in an Instagram post published on the official ministry account. The party's lawyers argue that Schuster violated state neutrality obligations and the party's right to equal political opportunity. The Interior Ministry confirmed receipt of the letter and said it would be reviewed legally. Separately, the Berlin Left Party has sent similar legal letters to Federal Economics Minister Katherina Reiche (CDU) and interior ministers of other states, including Brandenburg, over social media posts accusing the party of antisemitism and ties to criminal clans. The party had previously filed a criminal complaint against Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) for comments made on a TV talk show. The Left Party won the Berlin election with a clear plurality and aims to form a coalition with the Greens and SPD, with top candidate Elif Eralp seeking to become governing mayor.
Read sourceBerlin Left Party Sends Legal Demand to Baden-Wuerttemberg Interior Minister Hagel
The Berlin branch of the Left Party (Die Linke) has escalated its legal campaign against Union politicians, sending a cease-and-desist letter to Baden-Wuerttemberg's Interior Minister Manuel Hagel (CDU). The party's lawyers demand Hagel sign a legally binding declaration to refrain from certain statements or face a lawsuit. The dispute stems from Hagel's comments to Bild newspaper, where he referred to a potential Left Party mayor as a 'clan mayor' and suggested Berlin police should contact him if the Left Party 'ruins internal security.' The Left Party argues Hagel violated constitutional neutrality obligations for state officials. This action follows similar legal steps against Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU), who faces a criminal complaint for allegedly calling Left Party top candidate Elif Eralp an antisemite, and against Economics Minister Katherina Reiche and Schleswig-Holstein Interior Minister Magdalena Finke for social media posts. Left Party chair Ines Schwerdtner accused the Union of running a 'campaign with all means' and misusing public funds for propaganda.