Berlin's Elif Eralp under fire over Der Spiegel interview
Left candidate Elif Eralp has sparked controversy after Der Speigel reported she was advised against mentioning a pro-Palestinian activist for fear of reprisals against her family.
Elif Eralp, the frontrunner for Berlin's mayor, faced backlash after inadvertently revealing personal security concerns in an interview with Der Spiegel. As the Left Party candidate secured victory in recent Berlin elections, she expressed worry that discussing a specific pro-Palestinian activist could jeopardize her and her family's safety.
In the interview, she questioned the wisdom of agreeing to it, stating, "I should never have agreed to this interview." The controversy emerged from allegations of antisemitism within her party, linked to pro-Palestinian supporters. Eralp initially seemed to confirm her reference to the activist before retracting it and emphasizing her safety concerns.
Germany's standard protocol requires interviewees to review and approve quotes before publication. Eralp's decision to conceal her fears led to questions about her suitability to lead the city. Political rivals, including the Social Democrats and Greens, called for distancing from a potential coalition with the Left Party, citing her inability to distance herself from alleged extremists. Eralp responded defiantly, vowing to uphold security for all Berliners and rejecting the criticism.
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