Elif Eralp, a German-born politician of Turkish descent, has led Die Linke to victory in Berlin’s September 20 election, putting her on course to potentially become the German capital’s first Governing Mayor of Turkish descent.
Die Linke emerged as the strongest party in the election for the city-state’s parliament, putting the 45-year-old lead candidate at the center of negotiations over Berlin’s next government. Eralp, whose parents moved to Germany from Turkey in 1980, must now secure enough parliamentary support to be elected Governing Mayor.
Die Linke Wins the Berlin Election
Die Linke won 25.7 percent of the second votes, its strongest result in Berlin and a 13.4-point rise from the previous election.
The CDU finished second with 18.8 percent. The AfD received 16.3 percent, followed by the Greens with 14.3 percent and the SPD with 12.1 percent.
Voter turnout reached 74.2 percent, with more than 1.8 million people casting ballots.
The result has changed the balance in Berlin’s parliament. It also opens talks over the formation of the city’s next government.
The election does not directly decide the Governing Mayor. Berlin’s parliament elects the head of the state government after the formation of a governing majority.
Who Is Elif Eralp?
Eralp was born in Munich in 1981 and is a lawyer. She has served in Berlin’s House of Representatives since 2021.
She studied law at the University of Hamburg and worked on legal policy for the Left parliamentary group in Germany’s Bundestag. Her political work has focused on housing, migration and discrimination.
Housing at the Center of the Campaign
Housing was one of the main issues in Eralp’s campaign.
She supports stronger rent controls and more public control of housing. She also backs the implementation of Berlin’s 2021 referendum on the socialization of major private housing companies.
Berlin voters approved the proposal in 2021. The measure called for large private housing companies to move into public ownership.
The issue remains central to debates over Berlin’s housing policy and the priorities of its next government.
Berlin Awaits Its Next Government
Die Linke now holds the strongest position in the new parliament, but Berlin’s next government has yet to take shape.
Eralp will need support from potential coalition partners before she can seek election as Governing Mayor. The coming talks will determine whether Die Linke can turn its first-place result into leadership of the city-state government.
For now, one result stands out: Die Linke has finished first in a Berlin state election for the first time, placing Elif Eralp at the center of the city’s next political chapter.
See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!
