Linken politician Elif Eralp’s past membership in extremist Rote Hilfe revealed
Elif Eralp, a prominent member of Die Linken and potential mayoral candidate, was a long-time member of the far-left group Rote Hilfe until 2025.
Records from the Berlin Abgeordnetenhaus for 2022 and 2023 list Elif Eralp as a member of Rote Hilfe, a group classified by the Bundesverfassungsschutz as a major left-extremist network that finances legal fees for convicted activists and is linked to the so-called Hammerbande. Eralp said she joined to ensure legal support for individuals engaged in leftist social issues who lacked financial means, describing her role as passive.
The 2025 handbook no longer mentions her membership, reflecting her departure after internal disagreements, which occurred before she was selected as Die Linken’s top candidate. In the state election, Eralp won the majority of votes in her district, achieving an absolute majority, while the party increased its vote share significantly and entered coalition talks with the Greens and SPD.
Why it matters
The revelation could affect Eralp’s political prospects and public trust in Die Linken amid coalition negotiations.
How this story developed
- Sep 21 Elif Eralp emerges as Die Linke's high-profile mayoral candidate in Berlin
- Sep 21 The Greens announced they will seek a red‑green‑red coalition with the Left and SPD.
- Sep 21 Bundestag member Ferat Koçak said he communicated with Firas Remmo like any other Neukölln resident and was unaware of Remmo’s alleged criminal ties at the time.
- Sep 23 SPD and Greens require Die Linke to demonstrate anti‑antisemitism safeguards before coalition talks can proceed.
- Sep 24 Koçak announced a temporary pause from his interior‑committee duties.
- Sep 24 The Israeli ambassador warned of an “immediate existential threat” to Berlin’s Jewish community over alleged antisemitism in the party.
- Sep 27 SPD and Greens issued a joint warning demanding Die Linke reject antisemitism and clan crime before coalition talks proceed.
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