Germany debates alleged antisemitism in the Left Party

The socialist Left Party won the Berlin election on September 20 . This means there's a good chance that the party's top candidate, Elif Eralp, could become Berlin 's next mayor — making her the first member of the Left Party to hold that office.

Preliminary talks with the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the environmentalist Green Party are scheduled to take place on October 1. If the talks are successful, it would represent a major step toward forming a coalition government.

Securing a clear commitment from the Left Party against antisemitism within its own ranks is seen as a prerequisite for successful cooperation. Yet doubts still persist about whether the party and its representatives can adequately protect Jewish life in the city.

During the election campaign, a performance at a Left Party event by the rapper Dahabflex made headlines and sparked outrage when he used slogans seen as antisemitic during his performance. And later, at an event held by the Left Party to celebrate its election victory, an appearance was made by Ibrahim Ibrahim — a supporter of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), which is on the EU's list of terrorist organizations. The leaders of the Left Party have repeatedly distanced themselves from both incidents, both at the federal and state levels.

本文の著作権はDeutsche Welleにあります。