Elif Eralp emerges as Die Linke's high-profile mayoral candidate in Berlin

Elif Eralp, a Berlin parliamentarian since 2021 and deputy leader of Die Linke’s parliamentary group, was announced as the party’s mayoral candidate for the capital city. Born to Turkish left-wing refugees who escaped the 1980 coup, she grew up in several German cities, studied law, and worked for the UNHCR before joining Die Linke in 2017, the year the far-right AfD entered the Bundestag. Her campaign stresses rent control, migrant integration and gender equality, drawing inspiration from Bill de Blasio’s successful New York mayoral bid.

Polls show strong support for Eralp among voters under 30, particularly women, mirroring the youth backing that helped de Blasio win. While Die Linke has improved its standing nationally, analysts note that coalition building will still be required to form a governing majority in Berlin.