“I won’t let anyone intimidate me,” says Eralp – and makes a promise

After a media report about her fear of Hamas supporters, Berlin's left-wing top candidate Elif Eralp appeared particularly combative. “I will not let anyone intimidate me,” said Eralp on Thursday on the sidelines of the inaugural meeting of the Berlin House of Representatives. The fact that she is worried about her family is completely normal and a given.

The “Spiegel” had quoted from an internal note written by Eralp when authorizing an interview, according to which her husband and she were “afraid of these people”. This statement is said to refer to the Hamas sympathizer Ibrahim Ibrahim. He was present at a Left Party election party in Berlin-Neukölln in September. The left-wing politician apparently wanted to have a question and her answer about him deleted from the interview.

She did not want to comment directly on the report; it was “private, internal content,” said Eralp in her statement on Thursday. “What I can say very clearly is that I will ensure the safety of all Berliners as Governing Mayor (sic).” She will take consistent action against violence and terror.

She promises all Berliners that she will take action “with all the means at my disposal” against organized crime, against organizations that glorify violence, and against violence and terror. “This fight is a top priority for me and the future coalition,” said the politician.

She stands up for the protection and security of all people, be it Jewish people who are particularly under pressure or Muslim people who also experience discrimination and racism.

Meanwhile, several politicians expressed doubts about Eralp's ability to govern in light of her statements in the "Spiegel" report.

The chairman of the Parliamentary Control Committee (PKGr), Marc Henrichmann (CDU), told the “Rheinische Post”: “How could someone lead the German capital politically who is already unable to act because of fear of the ‘false friends’?”

Henrichmann accused Eralp of now “hitting hard on the reality of left-wing extremist and terrorist-affiliated infiltration,” which she had previously ignored for political reasons. The security authorities needed resources and political backing in order to “resolutely combat every form of extremist, terrorist and anti-Semitic infiltration,” said the CDU politician.

Criticism also came from deputy Green party leader Konstantin von Notz. “The process is blatant and irritating,” he told the editorial network Germany (RND). Anyone who wants to take on government responsibility must “address politically decisively” problems caused by organized crime and connections to terrorist organizations. The “very first and least basis” for this is to “clearly state these problems”.

Josef Schuster, chairman of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, reacted with horror to the Spiegel revelation. “The powerlessness of the party leadership and the fear that Ms. Eralp seems to feel personally shock me – but they don’t surprise me,” Schuster told “Spiegel.” He appealed to the Left's possible coalition partners to refrain from forming a joint alliance.

After the Left's election victory, Eralp is aiming for a state government with the Greens and the SPD. The Left was the strongest force in the House of Representatives election on September 20th with 25.7 percent.