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German Left Party politician Elif Eralp files criminal complaint against Interior Minister Dobrindt for defamation
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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.
Source report
Berlin — Following a heated exchange on the political talk show "Maybrit Illner," Berlin politician Elif Eralp (Die Linke) has filed a criminal complaint against Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU). Her lawyer accuses Dobrindt of defamation and insult.
Background of the Incident
The complaint centers on a segment of the ZDF program "Maybrit Illner" aired on Thursday, September 24, 2026. During the broadcast, host Maybrit Illner made a slip of the tongue, saying: "Elif Eralp says she is an antisemite..." She immediately corrected herself: "She is not an antisemite." In response, Dobrindt said: "Oh yes, she is." (The exchange occurs at approximately minute 35 of the broadcast.)
Legal Argument
Lawyer Jasper Prigge, representing Eralp and her state party association, argues that Dobrindt adopted Illner's verbal slip as his own statement. According to the legal filing, this constitutes:
- Defamation ("üble Nachrede") under the German Criminal Code, as Dobrindt allegedly made a false factual claim.
- Insult ("Beleidigung"), because labeling someone an antisemite is "significantly damaging to their honor."
The filing further states: "The act is also likely to significantly hinder Ms. Eralp's public work. The Interior Minister's dissemination of the false claim on television — that Ms. Eralp says she is an antisemite — is capable of impairing her integrity as a political officeholder and thus the formation of a government in the state of Berlin."
Political Context
Eralp's Left Party emerged as the strongest force in Berlin's state parliament election on September 20, 2026, winning 25.7% of the vote. She is seeking to become the city's Governing Mayor as part of a red-green-red coalition.
Her party has faced accusations of tolerating antisemitism, including an incident where a pro-Palestinian rapper allegedly called for violence against the Israeli army at a party event.
Previous Statements by Dobrindt
Last week, at a conference in Kloster Banz, Dobrindt stated that the Left Party in Berlin "quite obviously tolerates antisemites and extremists in its environment."
Eralp has repeatedly distanced herself from all forms of antisemitism and calls for violence, both before and after the election, and has affirmed Israel's right to exist.
Source: dpa/ceb
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Berlin Left Party leader files criminal complaint against Interior Minister Dobrindt for defamation