Can a child of political refugees become the first Die Linke Governing Mayor of Berlin?

Cultures · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Born to Turkish activists who fled a military coup, Elif Eralp has risen to lead Die Linke to its first-ever victory in Berlin. Now, as the party’s candidate for Governing Mayor, she faces the challenge of forming a coalition while navigating intense debates over housing policy and antisemitism.

Elif Eralp’s political trajectory is deeply rooted in her family history. Her parents, both trade unionists, fled Turkey following the 1980 military coup, arriving in Munich in November 1980. Eralp was born there in January 1981. After studying law at the University of Hamburg and working as a legal policy adviser, she moved to Berlin in 2010. Her activism initially focused on anti-racism and housing, eventually leading her to join Die Linke in 2017.

In the 2026 Berlin state election, Eralp served as the lead candidate for Die Linke. The party achieved a historic result, securing 25.7 per cent of the list vote and winning 47 of the 158 seats in the House of Representatives. This performance made Die Linke the largest party in the city for the first time. Eralp’s campaign centered on aggressive housing reform, including a proposed rent cap and the implementation of the 2021 referendum to expropriate large housing companies.

The campaign was not without friction. Eralp faced scrutiny following an incident in August 2026 where a performer at a party event used antisemitic language. Eralp condemned the event, emphasizing that antisemitism is a societal issue that also exists within her own party. As she enters coalition talks with the Greens and the SPD, she must balance her party's radical platform with the demands of potential partners, who have requested explicit commitments regarding the protection of Jewish life.

Eralp's rise reflects a broader shift in Berlin's political landscape. By focusing on door-to-door canvassing and leveraging concerns over rising rents and the rise of the AfD, she has positioned herself as a central figure in German politics. Whether she successfully secures the office of Governing Mayor remains a defining question for the city's future governance.

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