Berlin, Germany – The morning after Berlin’s landmark election was grey and cool, yet for 18-year-old student Sumeja Skeva in the vibrant Neukölln district, the city’s future has rarely looked more promising.
On Sunday, voters delivered a historic mandate to The Left (Die Linke), a party long regarded as radical for its anti-capitalist and pro-migrant platform. Elif Eralp, the party’s Berlin leader and a politician of Turkish descent, is poised to become the capital’s first mayor with an immigrant background—as well as its first from The Left.
Anti-immigrant far right strengthens support
The victory has brought relief to pro-migrant residents at a moment when the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) continues to expand its foothold in eastern states. Young voters under 30, drawn by pledges of affordability, formed the backbone of The Left’s electorate.
“It was my first time voting,” Skeva said. Her neighbourhood, where the scent of sizzling kebabs drifts from street stalls onto bustling thoroughfares, is home to a large immigrant population. “I want them to tax the wealthy and create more opportunities for everyone,” she added.
Eralp—who has drawn comparisons to New York politician Zohran Mamdani—campaigned on curbing soaring rents and chronic housing shortages in the ever-growing metropolis. The Left’s platform includes rent caps—a slogan Eralp wears on a gold necklace—and the expropriation of apartments from large corporate landlords.
She has also pledged to clean up neglected districts, prioritise social spending for vulnerable groups such as the homeless, and advocate for non-citizens’ right to vote in local elections.
“I’ll be happy to see all the changes they promised,” said Michael Akan, 26, a security worker and Left voter from Wedding, a diverse working-class district. “High rents are a problem for me, and energy costs too.”
While states lack authority over commodity prices, Akan—like many of The Left’s supporters—believes Eralp’s policies will eventually filter down and ease daily pressures. Her party secured 25.7 percent of the state vote, the largest share, and a ZDF poll placed Eralp’s personal approval at 36 percent, leading all mayoral contenders.
The taboo topic
Nearly half of Berlin’s 3.6 million residents have an immigration background, the largest group hailing from the Turkish community that helped rebuild West Germany after World War II. The city also hosts a sizable Arab population, including Europe’s largest Palestinian diaspora.
As leftists celebrated, the AfD also cheered strong gains. The party captured 16 percent of the Berlin vote to finish third. On the same day, it won the state election in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, marking its second state victory in two weeks.
Against that backdrop, there was “no question” about her choice, said Ana Pareja, who runs Bartleby and Co, a cosy bookshop on Neukölln’s fringe. Surrounded by Spanish literature, Pareja organised voting workshops for eligible EU nationals and urged her network to back Eralp.
“We’re going to have a woman with an immigrant background who is like us,” Pareja said. “We don’t know what will change immediately, but every proposal Elif Eralp has matters—from rent to rubbish collection to the untouchable subject,” she added, referring to solidarity with Palestine.
Expressing support for Palestine remains fraught in Germany given its staunch pro-Israel stance. Demonstrators have faced crackdowns and cultural venues have been shuttered. This year, three pro-Palestinian bookshops were stripped of a prestigious national award over accusations of “left-wing extremism.”
While Eralp has faced criticism for not articulating a stronger stance against Israel’s war in Gaza, or for lacking clearer policies against antisemitism, she has reiterated support for Palestinian, Jewish, and other vulnerable communities. Her backers hope the state will at least halt the suppression of pro-Palestinian voices.
Despite Sunday’s win, Eralp’s work is far from finished. Without a parliamentary majority, The Left must forge a coalition with like-minded partners—most likely the outgoing coalition of the Social Democrats (SPD) and the conservative Christian Democrats (CDU).
Both parties have already balked at Eralp’s agenda, particularly housing expropriation, meaning The Left must either persuade them or risk heavy compromises. Negotiations could stretch for weeks or months.
For now, many Berliners are simply savouring the sense of having pushed back against fears of a nationwide far-right surge.
“The first change is symbolic,” Pareja said. “That matters—it helps people regain hope and trust that had been lost.”
