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Berlin Left Party sends cease-and-desist to Baden-Wuerttemberg Interior Minister Hagel
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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.
Source report
Manuel Hagel: Legal notice from the Left Party could dampen his mood. Photo: Tom Weller/dpa
By Pascal Beucker
Manuel Hagel, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) Interior Minister of Baden-Württemberg, is now facing legal action from the Berlin Left Party. The party's legal representatives have demanded that Hagel sign a cease-and-desist declaration subject to penalty. If he fails to comply by Thursday, he faces a lawsuit.
The Triggering Remarks
The dispute stems from comments Hagel made regarding a potential government role for the Left Party in Berlin. Speaking to Bild newspaper, he stated, among other things: "The Berlin police are too good for a left-wing clan mayor who wants to strip them of their resources and powers." He added that before the Left Party "ruins internal security and turns off the lights at the police force," officers would be welcome to contact him.
Legal Basis of the Complaint
The Left Party argues that Hagel made these statements in his official capacity as state interior minister. In a nine-page legal submission to Hagel, attorneys Jasper Prigge and Sascha Wolf wrote that he had "unacceptably violated our client's right to equal opportunity in political competition." They cited established case law from the Federal Constitutional Court, which requires state bodies "to maintain neutrality in the political competition between parties."
Broader Pattern of Legal Action
The legal notice to Hagel is part of a series of legal steps taken by the Left Party and its top Berlin candidate, Elif Eralp, against what they consider defamatory statements from the Union camp.
- Alexander Dobrindt (CSU): The party and Eralp have already filed criminal charges against the Federal Interior Minister for insult and defamation. Dobrindt had responded "Oh yes" during a talk show last Thursday to a statement that Eralp is not an antisemite.
- Katherina Reiche (Federal Economics Minister): Also issued a demand for a cease-and-desist declaration this week, related to a video posted on her ministry's Instagram channel. The video, titled "Antisemitism and Expropriation Endanger Our Economy," shows Reiche describing the Berlin Left Party—without naming it directly—as a party "that openly lives antisemitism, frightens Jews in this city, fights Jewish life, and cheerfully welcomes organized crime at election parties." She called this "dangerous for Germany as an investment location."
- Magdalena Finke (Interior Minister of Schleswig-Holstein): Also received a legal demand this week. In an Instagram post distributed via the official channel of her ministry, Finke stated regarding the Left Party in Berlin: "Anyone who has connections to clan structures, tolerates Jew-hatred in their own ranks, or has a disturbed relationship with our security authorities must never take responsibility for security."
Political Reaction
Left Party chairwoman Ines Schwerdtner described the situation as a "campaign against us by any means." She criticized the use of official ministry channels to "make propaganda against the Left Party with taxpayer money," calling it "a misuse of public funds." Schwerdtner further accused the Union of "instrumentalizing the fight against antisemitism to defend the interests of the super-rich."
Related Articles:
- Elif Eralp and the Red Aid: Black accusations against red Elif
- Antisemitism allegations: Reiche also receives legal notice
- Eralp reports Dobrindt: Overdue red card
Source
taz.de - taz.deWestern