Left’s Berlin “win”: a Mamdani like campaign – now stand firm on Palestine

JVL Introduction

Die Linke has gained the largest number of votes in Berlin and, if coalition talks with the Greens and SPD go well, will be running the city. It seems that they learned a lot not only from the campaign methodology used to elect Zohran Mamdani but also the policy areas that they prioritised. These were the cost of living, especially the cost of homes along with education and transport. Of course, Berlin is not Germany, in much the same way that London is not the UK or even England, but it is an important victory and provides an important lesson for the left more generally.

Although not addressed in this article below, Palestine was also an issue; certainly supporters chanted for a free Palestine as victory was in sight and, inevitably allegations of antisemitism have started. Dr. Josef Shuster, President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany (equivalent to the Board of Deputies in the UK) issued a statement slamming The Left after Berlin win.

Dr. Shuster said: “The fact that a party whose campaign rallies openly called for people’s deaths is set to emerge victorious from the election deeply troubles me.” and “pointed to a campaign event held by The Left at which a rapper used the phrases “Yallah, Yallah, Intifada” and “Death to the IDF,” referring to the Israel Defense Forces.”

This article was originally published by Novara Media on Mon 21 Sep 2026. Read the original here.