Five months before the Berlin state election, Elif Eralp launched her campaign as the Left Party’s top candidate with a direct challenge to Governing Mayor Kai Wegner, declaring that affordable housing and a truly left-wing city government were her priorities.
Speaking at the party conference in Berlin-Lichtenberg, Eralp accused Wegner of losing touch with residents and failing to curb rent increases, even in municipally owned housing companies. She argued it was his responsibility to oppose social cuts at the federal level and push for a wealth tax.
Left Party state chair Kerstin Wolter framed the moment as historic, saying the party had for the first time a realistic chance to install a left-wing mayor and turn the Red Town Hall genuinely red. Federal chair Ines Schwerdtner echoed this, stating the Berlin town hall had long been red in symbolism but now needed political leadership to match.
The Left’s ambition extends beyond symbolism; Eralp, a 45-year-old jurist and member of the state parliament since 2021, is positioning herself as a unifying figure capable of broadening the party’s appeal beyond its traditional base in districts like Neukölln and Friedrichshain.
To achieve this, she has adopted a disciplined door-to-door campaign style, wearing a red vest over a black coat with the slogan “Never alone, always together.” Trained by party volunteer Eddie, she follows strict guidelines: conversations should last five to eight minutes, with 70 percent listening and 30 percent speaking and authenticity is paramount — even admitting when she does not know an answer.
The electoral landscape remains challenging. Current polls reveal the CDU leading with just over 20 percent, while the Left, SPD, Greens, and AfD cluster between 15 and 18 percent. For Eralp to become mayor, the Left would need to secure a strong second-place finish and form a three-way coalition with the SPD and Greens — a scenario contingent on winning over progressive voters across the city.
The party draws inspiration from New York, where left-wing Democrat Zohran Mamdani won the mayoralty despite skepticism from traditional non-socialist voters. Yet, Eralp and her team acknowledge the differences between Berlin and New York, recognizing that replicating such a breakthrough requires overcoming deep-rooted political patterns in the German capital.
What specific policy does Elif Eralp demand from Kai Wegner at the federal level?
She demands that Wegner advocate for a wealth tax to counter social cuts.
How does the Left Party justify its claim to a historic opportunity in Berlin’s upcoming election?
Party leaders state What we have is the first time they have a realistic chance to elect a left-wing mayor and transform the Red Town Hall into a genuinely left-wing governing institution.
