Berlin's Left Party Takes Action Against Saxony's Interior Minister

Berlin’s Left Party is taking legal action against Saxony’s Interior Minister Armin Schuster over a post he made following the House of Representatives election. Following the Left Party’s election victory in Berlin a week and a half ago, the CDU politician had expressed concerns in an Instagram post about the party’s potential participation in the government. In the post, he addressed the issues of antisemitism and criminal clans.

In a letter from a law firm, the ministry is being asked to issue a statement regarding a cease-and-desist order by Friday (October 2). A spokeswoman for the Ministry of the Interior confirmed receipt of the letter upon inquiry. The “Sächsische Zeitung” and “Leipziger Volkszeitung” had previously reported on the matter.

Schuster: Election Victory a “Slap in the Face”

The CDU politician had described the Left Party’s election victory in Berlin as a “slap in the face to upstanding citizens.” The post was published from the official account of the Saxon Ministry of the Interior.

Schuster thereby drew on ministry resources, and this constitutes an official statement, the law firm writes. However, state bodies are obligated to remain neutral. “Your statement violates our client’s right to equal opportunity in political competition,” the statement continues. In terms of content, Schuster is making a strong political judgment at the party’s expense.

Criticism Also from The Left in Saxony

The Saxon branch of The Left had also already criticized the post. Caucus leader Susanne Schaper said she had searched unsuccessfully for comparable posts on the Interior Ministry’s account following the AfD’s election successes in Saxony-Anhalt or Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. She accused Schuster of denying reality. “It shows that some in the Union still haven’t understood where the enemy of democracy stands.”

Legal Action Also Taken Against Other Politicians

The Berlin Left Party is also taking legal action against other politicians who have accused the party via social media of anti-Semitism and ties to criminal clans. According to a party spokesperson, a lawyer sent similar letters to Federal Minister of Economic Affairs Katherina Reiche (CDU) and the interior ministers of other states, including Brandenburg.

Previously, the Berlin Left Party had already filed a criminal complaint against Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) over remarks he made on a TV talk show. 

The Left emerged as by far the strongest force in the Berlin election on September 20; it intends to form a coalition with the Greens and the SPD and to have its top candidate, Elif Eralp, serve as Governing Mayor. The CDU suffered significant losses in the election.