Left party conference in Berlin: Elif Eralp beams with joy

At the very end of her speech, Elif Eralp also addresses the “Spiegel” report about a failed interview. “I am accused of not being able to protect Berlin because I worry about my safety,” says Eralp, making it clear what she thinks of the criticism. "I see it differently. It is precisely because I understand different concerns that I will do exactly that."

A “promise of protection” that Eralp makes is intended to dispel any doubts that she is open to blackmail because she feels threatened by a Palestinian activist close to Hamas. “I will work to protect Jewish life, against anti-Semitism and also against organized crime,” promises Eralp. “But also against any form of racism against Palestinians.”

During her acclaimed appearance in front of the delegates to the Left Party Conference on Saturday in the Don Xuan House in Lichtenberg, Eralp left no doubt that she wants to become Berlin's new governing mayor. “We sent a message on September 20th,” she says. “Another policy is possible, another policy is necessary.”

Eralp emphasizes that people have great hope in the left. “That’s why today we will make one of the most important decisions our party has ever had to make.” With these words, Eralp got the more than 150 delegates in the mood for the vote, which should clear the way for coalition negotiations with the Greens and the SPD in Berlin.

The standing ovation and shouts of “Elif-Elif” at the end of her speech already show that the party congress is behind the exploratory paper that the Left Party, the Greens and the SPD have negotiated. In the end, the party congress voted overwhelmingly, with only a few votes against, to begin coalition negotiations.

A few dozen demonstrators gathered in front of the hall for Eralp's speech. "Elected for Palestine. Betrayed for the Senate" is the motto of the critics of a red-green-red alliance from the ranks of Palestinian solidarity groups.

Thies Kehmeier, an activist from what he calls the Left Party, tells the taz that the demonstrators are “against a coalition that represents the content of the current exploratory paper.” But the criticism of the explorers' compromise that socialization should only begin when there are 10,000 instead of 3,000 apartments is lost under the Palestine flags and a banner with the inscription "Reason of state is genocide".

Among the demonstrators is the controversial Neukölln MP Vanessa Emde, who is demonstrating against her own party. Ramsis Kilani, whom the party had already excluded in 2024, is also there. The demonstrators are calling on the base of the Left Party to join their movement - “but not with this leadership, they have to resign,” shouts a speaker to applause. When speakers talk about Eralp and the party leadership, the crowd repeatedly shouts “Shame one you”.

Emde herself, who never misses an opportunity to emphasize that there is no right to exist for states, demands at the rally: "No coalition without socialization. No coalition without Palestine solidarity." She ends her speech with "Yalla, yalla, class struggle! Freedom for Palestine!"

“I am currently receiving calls for my resignation from various corners,” says Eralp inside the party conference and immediately returns the criticism. "I would like to ask the opponents of a left-wing government: What is the alternative? Do we want to leave our wonderful city to the CDU?" That is not an alternative, Eralp himself answers her question. “Our shared vision is the alternative for the people of the city.”

In the ensuing debate, the initiators of a referendum for better daycare centers also had their say. When they leave the stage, Elif Eralp and the Left state chairwoman Kerstin Wolters try to talk to the trade unionists. Eralp had previously said: “The people also elected us for change.”

Officials from the Berlin State Criminal Police Office are always at Eralp's side this Saturday, easily recognizable by the button in their ears. Dozens of uniformed police officers patrol the grounds of the Dong Xuan Center. Eralp had previously accepted the offer to be accompanied by bodyguards. “An unusual party conference in every respect,” says a delegate.

In the debate itself there are only a few speeches against a possible left-wing alliance. “In capitalist conditions there is no change through government participation, only through struggles on the streets and in the workplace,” says one speaker.

She is particularly applauded by the Left Youth Solid and delegates from Mitte. Some members of Solid attend the demonstration against their own party leadership during the break. There is no applause for Eralp and Wolter's contributions.

The critics cannot get their way with the amendments either. A motion against the “Berlin Agreement” on anti-Semitism, Israel's right to exist and the protection of Jewish life, which was agreed in the preliminary discussions by the Left, the Greens and the SPD, does not find a majority.

Federal party leader Ines Schwerdtner is building a bridge to the party's Palestinian solidarity camp. “Our decisions on Gaza are clear,” says Schwerdtner. “We are the ones who used the term genocide when others were still silent.” We stand with those who show solidarity with the people of Palestine. “Even if those standing outside signal something different.”

However, Schwerdtner sharply criticizes MP Emde. “Our opponents are just waiting for one sentence and one photo with which they can distract from their own politics.” Anyone who has a mandate has a responsibility, says Schwerdtner to Vanessa Emde. “Anyone who provokes must ask themselves: Are you only helping yourself or those you are supporting?”

“I’m really happy,” says Eralp in front of the numerous television cameras after the party conference. “This is a historic day.”

After the clear vote from the Left, coalition negotiations will begin on Monday. However, no longer in the House of Statistics, where the explorations previously took place, but in the Berlin House of Representatives.

The left will face its next challenge on Tuesday. Then the group meeting will discuss the question of what happens next with Vanessa Emde - the MP who demonstrated against her own party at the Left party conference on Saturday in front of the Don Xuan House.