Criminal complaint from German politician Eralp against CSU member Dobrindt

Eralp's lawyer, Jasper Prigge, stated in his statement to the press that the reason for the criminal complaint was that Dobrindt adopted a statement describing Eralp as anti-Semitic in the program broadcast on ZDF television.

Prigge stated that the statement in question constituted "slander" and "insult" crimes within the scope of the German Criminal Code.

In the program broadcast on September 24, the host of the program, Maybrit Illner, intervened during the discussion between Dobrindt and Left Party Federal Parliament Group Chair Heidi Reichinnek, made a slip of the tongue while talking about Eralp and said, "Elif Eralp says she is an anti-Semite," and then corrected her words and said, "She is not an anti-Semite." he said.

However, Dobrindt then responded, "No, it is."

Reichinnek reacted harshly to Dobrindt's remarks, calling it "really extremely disgusting."

Eralp's lawyer, Prigge, stated that Dobrindt adopted the program host's slip of the tongue as if it were his own opinion, and that Dobrindt made a false factual claim that Eralp was an anti-Semite, and that this should be considered within the scope of slander and insult.

In the criminal complaint, it was noted that describing Eralp as an anti-Semite could have serious consequences for his political activities, that such a statement could damage his political reputation and affect the process of establishing a government in Berlin.

Eralp's election success

The Left Party, where Eralp was the prime minister candidate, became the first party with 25.7 percent of the votes in the State Assembly elections held in Berlin on September 20.

Eralp aims to become the state prime minister and mayor of Berlin by forming a triple coalition with the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Greens after the elections.