News from Berlin
Will “Rote Hilfe” prove the Left’s undoing?
Elif Eralp (“die Linke”) never made a secret of it, yet critics are now using it as an argument to question her suitability for the office of Mayor of Berlin. She was a member of “Rote Hilfe”, an association that defines itself as a “cross-factional solidarity organization for all leftists.” The Berlin chapter of “die Linke” affirmed the politician joined once the association because “she wanted to support people who advocate for leftist causes”. Eralp left Rote Hilfe in 2025 “due to partially differing political views.” Ronen Steinke, an expert on extremism and intelligence services for the “SüddeutscheZeitung”, characterized the allegations against Eralp as a “witch hunt.” Source: dw
Koçak: “I Was Naive”
Ferat Koçak (“die Linke”) has been under fire since his party won the Berlin mayoral election. Now, in the name of transparency, he’s given an interview with “Die Zeit”, in which he shared messages between himself and Firas Remmo, son of an organised crime figure. The contact appears to have begun when Koçak was collecting donated mobile phones for a group of young activists whose phones were confiscated by police. Among the people who offered some was the younger Remmo. Koçak summed up his feelings about the affair: ” I was naive and overwhelmed by the circumstances. For that, I take responsibility.” Source: heistberlin
News from Germany
Berlin boycott UN anti-racism event
German foreign minister Guido Westerwelle announced that Berlin would skip the United Nations’ Durban anti-racism conference, with an eye toward anti-Israel remarks by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at the 2009 summit. “We unfortunately cannot rule out that the Durban commemoration event in New York could be misused to make antisemitic comments as was the case at past conferences,” Westerwelle then affirmed. The president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany welcomed the government’s decision to boycott the conference, calling it a show trial against Israel that should not be granted legitimacy. Westerwelle added Berlin’s decision reflected the country’s special responsibility toward Israel. Source: archive.is
Deutschland ticket to become more expensive again
The price of the Deutschlandticket is to rise again next year—reaching nearly 67 euros—according to the “Rheinische Post”. This would mark the third time the ticket cost has increased. It originally cost 49 euros per month. Criticism of the price hike has come from the German Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND). They argue it is unacceptable for the federal government to allocate 2.5 billion euros in tax revenue for another fuel discount while failing to at least keep the price of the Deutschlandticket stable. Source: tagesschau
Thuringia: first hearing on AfD ban held
At the request of die Linke’s (The Left) branch in Thuringia, experts, politicians and public figures gathered in the state parliament in Erfurt on September 30 to discuss if the AfD seeks to undermine the German democratic constitution and should therefore be banned. Comedian and presenter Hape Kerkeling, whose resistance fighter grandfather was imprisoned by the Nazis in 1933, was present and his speech focused on the AfD’s approach to Germany’s Nazi past. Nevertheless, even if the electorate were united on an AfD ban, how feasible would it be? Given the complexity of this democratic process, the burden of proof is high, and procedures would take a long time. Source: iamexpat
Thousands for peace
Over last weekend, antimilitarists and anti-capitalists took to the streets in Berlin and Stuttgart to voice their opposition to war. Many answered the call issued by the “Never Again War – Lay Down Your Arms” (“Nie wieder Krieg – Die Waffen nieder”) initiative and other organizations. Speakers on stage included, among others, Sören Pellmann (“Die Linke”), Johannes Varwick (Halle-Wittenberg Uni), and Karla Wolf (“School Strike Against Conscription”). According to “junge Welt”, “over 20,000” people participated in Berlin and “over 15,000” in Stuttgart. In contrast, police in the capital claimed there were around 5,800 participants on October 3. In Stuttgart, a dpa reporter estimated the turnout to be in the “low to mid-thousands.” Source: jungewelt
AfD weighs shift from anti-EU roots, as shown in strategy paper
Members of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) are advocating a shift in the party’s long-standing opposition to Germany’s membership in the European Union and the euro, according to a strategy paper. The move would mark a change in one of the founding principles of the AfD, which was created in 2013 largely in opposition to eurozone bailout policies. The paper, first reported by “Bild”, calls for a wholesale renegotiation of EU treaties to turn the bloc into a looser alliance of sovereign nations. If those efforts fail, a referendum on Germany’s membership should be held, it said. Source: reuters
Emden selected for new naval base in Germany
After the Ministry of Defence Boris Pistorius (SPD) spent months evaluating various locations, a decision has been reached: the Bundeswehr’s new naval base will be built in Emden on the Lower Saxon North Sea coast. “Emden offers ideal condition such as rapid access to the Atlantic and the High North,” explained Pistorius. “This strengthens the deterrence capabilities of both Germany and NATO.” Emden’s seaport is the economic heart of East Frisia. For instance, alarge Volkswagen plant is located right next to the port, serving as a hub for exporting cars by ship to destinations worldwide. Source: dw
