Past Rote Hilfe membership of Berlin mayoral hopeful Elif Eralp comes to light
Records from the Berlin Abgeordnetenhaus show that Elif Eralp was listed as a member of Rote Hilfe in 2022 and 2023. Eralp described her involvement as passive and said she joined to provide legal support for activists lacking financial means. The group is classified by the Bundesverfassungsschutz as a major left‑extremist network linked to the so‑called Hammerbande. A 2025 party handbook no longer mentions her membership, indicating she is no longer affiliated. The revelation appears as Eralp campaigns for the Berlin mayoralty.
Why it matters
Voters are informed that a candidate for Berlin’s top office previously belonged to an organization classified as extremist.
How the sides frame it
MODERATE AGREEMENTBoth camps report Eralp’s past membership and the security service’s extremist label, but left-leaning coverage presents the affiliation with contextual nuance and her withdrawal, while right-leaning coverage stresses the extremist danger and criminal ties of the group.
LEFT
Left-leaning coverage frames the story as a controversial revelation about Eralp’s past link to a group labelled extremist, emphasizing the security service’s description, her passive role and withdrawal, and the organization’s mixed legal-aid activities.
RIGHT
Right-leaning coverage frames the story as exposing a dangerous extremist background, highlighting the group’s classification as a major left-extremist network that finances convicted activists and is linked to criminal groups.
The left emphasises
- the Berlin state security service describes Rote Hilfe as the "most significant left-extremist association"
- Eralp was a passive member for years and withdrew last year because of divergent political positions
- Rote Hilfe defines itself as a solidarity organization for individuals persecuted for political activity
The right emphasises
- Rote Hilfe is classified by the Bundesverfassungsschutz as a major left-extremist network
- the group finances legal fees for convicted activists and is linked to the so-called Hammerbande
- the organization supports left-wing criminals
How this story developed
- Sep 21 Ferat Koçak defends Instagram contact with Firas Remmo, claims ignorance of his background
- Sep 24 Koçak announced a temporary pause from his interior‑committee duties.
- Sep 29 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.
- Oct 3 Her name was removed from the 2025 party handbook.
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