Full Breakdown
Elif Eralp Leads Die Linke to Historic Victory in Berlin
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On September 20 the Berlin state election produced a decisive win for Die Linke, securing the largest share of the vote and placing its lead candidate Elif Eralp in a position to become governing mayor of Germany’s capital. Die Linke’s 47 seats in the 158-member Abgeordnetenhaus make a coalition necessary to elect a mayor.
Background & Context
Berlin’s housing market has become a central political fault line. Public-bank Investitionsbank Berlin reports that the median advertised rent rose from €9 per m² in 2016 to €15.78 per m² in 2025 – a 75 % increase. The 2021 “Deutsche Wohnen & Co. enteignen” referendum, in which 59 % of voters backed expropriation of large private landlords, remains a rallying point for Die Linke.
Eralp, a 45-year-old lawyer of Turkish origin, framed her campaign around affordable housing, rent caps and anti-racism, drawing inspiration from New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s 2025 victory. Party members travelled to New York for strategy sessions, emphasizing door-to-door outreach and a strong social-media presence.
Data & Statistics
- Die Linke vote share: 25.3 %–26 % (commondreams, al Jazeera, Reuters, Times of Israel).
- CDU vote share: 18.8 %–20 %.
- AfD vote share: 16 %–16.3 %.
- Die Linke seats: 47 of 158.
- Median advertised rent 2016 -> 2025: €9 -> €15.78 per m².
- Party proposes expropriation of ? 220 000 flats from large landlords such as Vonovia and Deutsche Wohnen.
Official Statements & Responses
Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned that expropriation would have “devastating effects” on foreign investment and announced a federal law to block large-scale socialisation of residential property.
Criticism & Opposition
The SPD and the Greens have signalled reservations about Die Linke’s housing plan, particularly financing a €20 billion expropriation programme. SPD lead candidate Steffen Krach publicly opposed the idea.
Accusations of antisemitism within Die Linke’s Berlin branches have been raised after a campaign event in Neukölln featured a performer chanting “Death to the IDF!” Eralp distanced herself from those incidents and condemned glorification of violence.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Vote percentages differ across outlets (25.3 % vs 26 %).
- Final seat allocation remains pending; coalition arithmetic will depend on the performance of the BSW and FDP.
- Legal feasibility of expropriating private housing stock hinges on pending federal legislation and constitutional constraints.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We will make Berlin a better place where racism is less. Where we stay together, also against the far right. I think this is the most important,” — Elif Eralp
- “It is absolutely clear to me that the glorification of violence and terrorism is completely unacceptable,” — Elif Eralp
Why It Matters / Impact
Eralp’s victory signals a shift in Berlin’s political landscape, offering a left-wing alternative to both the centre-right establishment and the far-right AfD. A coalition with the SPD and Greens could make Berlin the first German state to implement a large-scale public-housing programme and a rent-freeze for state-owned apartments, testing the durability of Germany’s “democratic firewall” against the AfD.
What’s Next
Coalition negotiations with the SPD and Greens are expected to begin within the next weeks. The federal government has announced plans to fast-track legislation preventing large-scale expropriation, a point Eralp says will be central to talks. The Berlin parliament will convene to elect the governing mayor once a coalition agreement is reached.