Berlin Die Linke faces pressure over antisemitism row

Germany's far-left Die Linke faced growing pressure on Wednesday from potential coalition partners over accusations it tolerated antisemitism after two controversial figures were seen at its Berlin election victory celebration.

Die Linke won 25.7 percent in the Berlin city-state vote, ahead of Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservative CDU on 18.8 percent. The party would need support from the centre-left Social Democrats and the Greens to form a state government.

The controversy began after Die Linke MP Ferat Kocak was pictured with Ibrahim Ibrahim, described by German media as a supporter of armed Palestinian militants. Issa Remmo, head of the Remmo clan, an extended family often accused of organised-crime links, was also seen at the event.

Die Linke said the celebration was a public event and that Ibrahim and Remmo were asked to leave once they were seen. Lead candidate Elif Eralp reiterated her opposition to antisemitism and said that “celebrating violence and terrorism is absolutely unacceptable.”

The SPD leadership said Die Linke must “not allow a millimetre of space for antisemitism, nor for criminal clans.” Green MP Andreas Audretsch said the party's explanations were unconvincing, adding: “Issa Remmo is a central figure in organised crime. You don't just bump into him at events.”

Kocak has announced he will “take a step back” from public events after his contact with Issa Remmo's son Firas became public. Veteran Die Linke MP Gregor Gysi said in a parliamentary debate that Kocak had made a mistake and that the party was investigating, but he also accused opponents of instrumentalising antisemitism to stir up hatred against the left.