The Berlin mayoral candidate Elif Eralp (Left) was a member of the Red Aid until last year. The association is classified by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution as “the largest and one of the most important groups in German left-wing extremism”. The current report for the protection of the constitution states that the “primary field of activity” of the Red Aid is “supporting left-wing extremist criminals”. The association offers “a framework of legitimacy for the commission of criminal and violent crimes”.
Convicted criminals with left-wing views can apply to Red Aid for reimbursement of their penalties and fines. The effect of sanctions is thus undermined. The association's payments are intended to encourage perpetrators not to cooperate with the police and courts: Red Aid's regulations stipulate that the association can reject an application for support if the applicant makes a statement or apologizes in a criminal case.
The Office for the Protection of the Constitution writes that the selection and justification of the support cases show that Red Aid “not only advocates but also supports the use of violence as a means of political debate.”
What does Elif Eralp say about her former membership in Rote Hilfe?
Eralp's previous membership in the association can be seen from two earlier editions of the Berlin House of Representatives handbook. They were published in March 2022 and July 2023. At that time, too, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution classified the Rote Hilfe as left-wing extremist and supportive of violence. In the most recent edition of the Members' Handbook from October 2025, Red Aid for Eralp club memberships is no longer mentioned.
The state office of the Left Party wrote to the F.A.Z. This Tuesday, Eralp had joined the Rote Hilfe during her law studies because “she wanted to support people who are committed to left-wing and social issues having legal support, even if they themselves do not have the necessary financial resources.” Afterwards she was “a passive member for years”. Eralp always provided “transparent” information about his membership on the House of Representatives homepage. Last year she left “because of partly different political views” – before she became the top candidate for the Berlin House of Representatives election.
The Berlin Left Party won the election on September 20th. Eralp wants to form a government with the Greens and SPD. She only moved into the House of Representatives in 2021. The politician was still little known in 2022 and 2023. This changed after the state executive committee of the Left nominated her as the top candidate in October 2025. Before making such a personnel decision, it is common for parties to check the biographies of candidates for problematic content.
As early as April 2025, the F.A.Z. reported on connections between left-wing members of the Bundestag and Red Aid. The Berlin Bundestag member Ferat Kocak announced at the time that he was not a member of the association. He had previously invited people to a party with “solid drinks and cocktails” in support of Red Aid in his constituency office in 2022. Kocak is currently under pressure because of contacts with a Hamas supporter and a clan criminal. He therefore does not pursue his parliamentary functions.
The Berlin Left Party's sympathies for the Red Aid were also evident in the election manifesto: it states that "anti-fascist associations" will be "exposed to tax attacks or their accounts will be closed" - the Red Aid is cited as an example. It then says: “We are firmly at your side.”
