Elif Eralp, a member of Germany’s The Left party, filed a criminal complaint over remarks made by Interior Minister Dobrindt during a television program. Eralp’s lawyer, Jasper Prigge, said the complaint was based on Dobrindt’s endorsement of a statement describing Eralp as antisemitic during a program aired on ZDF.
Prigge argued that the statement could constitute defamation and insult under the German Criminal Code. The complaint also contends that describing Eralp as antisemitic could have serious consequences for her political activities and reputation.
The debate on the ZDF program
A debate broke out between Dobrindt and Heidi Reichinnek, parliamentary group leader of The Left in the Bundestag, during the program aired on September 24. While discussing Eralp, host Maybrit Illner misspoke and said, “Elif Eralp says that she is antisemitic.”
Illner immediately corrected herself, stating that Eralp was not antisemitic. Dobrindt responded to the host’s correction, saying, “No, she is.”
Reichinnek described Dobrindt’s remarks as “truly extremely disgusting.” Prigge also argued that Dobrindt had adopted Illner’s slip of the tongue as his own view and made a false factual allegation about Eralp.
Coalition plans after the Berlin elections
The Left, whose candidate for state premier was Eralp, came first in the Berlin state parliament elections held on September 20, receiving 25.7 percent of the vote.
Following the elections, Eralp aims to form a three-party coalition with the Social Democratic Party and the Greens and become Berlin’s state premier and mayor.