The majority of delegates followed a proposal from the state executive committee. The party conference is a “strong signal” and offers her support “to make life better for the people in Berlin,” said Elif Eralp, who wants to lead a coalition as governing mayor. She is looking forward to talking to future and possible coalition partners about solutions to the rent crisis and announced that she would invite people to exploratory talks that evening. The Left had placed housing policy and affordability in the city at the center of its program.
There is only controversy when it comes to the issue of clan crime
At the end of the party conference, however, she avoided two issues that both the Greens and the SPD still see a need for clarification on. And one of these topics – clan crime – sparked the only dispute in the otherwise largely harmonious party conference. It became clear that, on the one hand, the party leadership was significantly strengthened by the election victory. Nevertheless, she is under pressure because of the sometimes contradictory expectations that are placed on the party from within and without.
Greens and Social Democrats, with whom the Left could form a clear government majority, have demanded that the Left regulate its handling of anti-Semitic border crossings, which have repeatedly occurred as part of Palestine solidarity events. A clear distancing from organized crime is also required after evidence of connections between Bundestag member Ferat Kocak and members of the extended Remmo family became public. The clan is known for large-scale criminal activities.
Left board members, including Eralp, used the party conference to make clear their rejection of anti-Semitic border crossings. However, the party appeared combative in the face of the massive criticism that was recently expressed by the press and also by various prominent representatives of the CDU and the Greens. The criticism has “lost measure and center,” said co-chair Maximilian Schirmer. Eralp said she would “certainly not allow herself to be insulted by the most unpopular Chancellor of all time.” Some speakers expressed massive criticism of the press present and named the Berliner Tagesspiegel and the “Springer Media” as the drivers of a “smear campaign.”
Almost all speakers are in favor of explorations
Nevertheless, the mood was largely relaxed. The Left was the only regional association to have scheduled a party conference to let delegates vote on whether they should begin negotiations. She obviously wanted to use the evening to celebrate herself and the efforts of the election campaigners. During the election campaign there were isolated but loud voices that rejected participation in a government alliance. In particular, the youth organization Solid, which is only associated with the party, and the Neukölln candidate Vanessa Emde spoke out against it.
During the general debate, almost all speakers spoke in favor of building a coalition. A leitmotif of the evening was the party's self-image as a beacon of hope for the capital. “We have achieved that people have hope for a better life again,” said top candidate and election winner Elif Eralp during her speech, which was repeatedly interrupted by thunderous applause and cheers from the delegates.
“Many people in our city have relied on us, they have given us a task, and we will not let that dissuade us,” said state chairman Maximilian Schirmer. There was always talk of the great responsibility that the election results entail. “We must not disappoint the hope that people have in us,” said state manager Bjoern Tielebein.
Greens set conditions for talks
However, he was also the subject of the strongest criticism that was expressed to the state executive board that evening. As expected, it came from the direction of the youth organization. The opening speaker was a representative of the school strike movement. She said: "When the press tells you that there is a problem with armed clans in your city, these are the ones who use helmets, gloves and clubs to attack student protesters." Thielebein then rejected the statement: “It’s not necessarily our view as you just portrayed it with the clans and the police,” he said. There were then angry heckling and Thielebein was accused of “dissolving solidarity”.
