Pellmann, Leader of the Left Party Caucus, Now a Member of Rote Hilfe

Following criticism of Left Party politician Elif Eralp’s past membership in the so-called “Rote Hilfe,” Bundestag caucus leader Sören Pellmann has joined the organization. The Left Party politician from Leipzig confirmed a report to that effect in the *Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung*.

Explaining his reasoning to the German Press Agency, Pellmann said: “An NGO like this is important when it comes to ensuring fair trials in which parties to the proceedings can be represented by attorneys. This is especially true when they cannot afford one.”

The newspaper had previously reported that Elif Eralp, the Left Party’s candidate for the office of Governing Mayor, was at one time a member of Rote Hilfe. Eralp resigned in 2025. Against this backdrop, Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann (CSU) described Eralp as unsuitable for the office of head of government.

State Office for the Protection of the Constitution: Largest Far-Left Extremist Organization

In its 2025 annual report, the State Office for the Protection of the Constitution identifies Rote Hilfe as by far the largest far-left extremist organization in Berlin. The report states that not all members of the organization themselves pursued anti-constitutional goals. However, the organization’s and its leaders’ opposition to the free democratic basic order is a reason for monitoring by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution. 

According to its bylaws, Rote Hilfe defines itself as a “left-wing protection and solidarity organization” for all those who are persecuted because of their political activities, as the Office for the Protection of the Constitution notes in its report. “It provides material and political support to those affected by criminal investigations. The sole determining factor is the left-wing political motivation behind the act.”