Berlin left-wing politician Emde rejects waiving her mandate

Berlin House of Representatives Left-wing politician Emde rejects waiver of mandate As of: November 8th, 2026 • 11:26 a.m

The Berlin left-wing MP Emde has clearly rejected the party executive's demand to resign her mandate. The politician also doesn't seem to be backing away from her controversial stance on Israel.

The controversial Berlin left-wing politician Vanessa Emde refuses to follow her party executive's request to give up her mandate. “Of course I will continue to exercise my mandate!” she said in a press release. She firmly rejects the state executive's demand for withdrawal. “Democratically obtained mandates are not subject to negotiation,” said Emde.

Among other things, Emde is accused of denying Israel's right to exist. Like all Left MPs, she signed a declaration against anti-Semitism at the constituent parliamentary group meeting on October 13th. However, she then distanced herself from it in an Instagram video. The leadership of the Berlin Left called on Emde to return its mandate on Friday, citing a refusal to work together. “We no longer trust her,” said state chairmen Kerstin Wolter and Maximilian Schirmer after a board meeting. Emde announced that she would not enter into a coalition without the consistent implementation of the referendum on the socialization of large housing companies and without Palestine solidarity. In addition, a coalition is not allowed to make any social cuts. "The repression, intimidation and racist police violence must end and freedom of expression, assembly and art must be protected in Berlin. That's why I was elected and that's what I'm committed to," explained Emde. “Obviously I am doing this on the basis of our current party resolutions and the party’s elected representatives agreements,” said Emde. The party conference's resolution on the Jerusalem Declaration and the decision to describe and condemn the "Israeli crimes" against the Palestinians as genocide formed an explicit basis for their political actions "and will continue to do so in the future."

On Sunday morning, the Federal Working Group (BAG) for Palestine Solidarity of the Left had already criticized the Berlin state executive's decision to call on Emde to return its mandate. The BAG demanded the immediate reversal of the decision and “the full inclusion” of Emde in the parliamentary group. "What is happening here is a political kowtow to the will of the government. A directly elected member of parliament should give up her mandate because her stance on the genocide in Gaza and her consistent solidarity with Palestine obviously do not fit into the calculation of possible government negotiations." The BAG explained that the demand for withdrawal was an attack on internal party democracy and a disregard for the people who directly elected Vanessa Emde with 46.2 percent.

Vanessa Emde's behavior has been causing discussions for weeks. Emde was newly elected to the House of Representatives on September 20th, with a direct mandate from Neukölln. At a rally against her party leadership on the sidelines of a Left Party conference, she recently expressed solidarity with a controversial pro-Palestinian activist. According to the democ association, which deals with anti-democratic movements, he is committed to the terrorist group Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).

Broadcast: rbb24 Inforadio, November 8th, 2026, 11:00 a.m. Audio: rbb24 Inforadio, November 8th, 2026, Jonas Ziegler