At a leaders’ meeting jointly organised by the Alevi Community of Berlin (BAT) – Cemevi and the Turkish Federation in Berlin-Brandenburg (TBB), the leading candidates for Governing Mayor, Werner Graf (Greens), Elif Eralp (Die Linke) and Steffen Krach (Social Democratic Party, SPD), gave their full backing to a state treaty with the Alevi community. Speaking for the CDU, Kreuzberg candidate Kurt Wansner said that the CDU was not in favour of a state treaty.
Meeting voters of Turkish origin at the Cemevi (Alevi house of worship) ahead of the election on 20 September, the party candidates set out their views on issues including rents, discrimination, voting rights for migrants, racism and education. At the meeting, chaired by BAT-Cemevi General Secretary Deniz Yıldırım Caliman, the four party representatives put forward differing approaches to the rent problem. Wansner (CDU) drew criticism from the other three candidates for equating Die Linke with the anti-immigrant AfD. All four party representatives backed the idea of granting everyone the right to vote and to stand for election. When the CDU representative said the CDU supported voting rights for all, Eralp (Die Linke) drew applause from the audience by replying: “Then let’s pass this together in parliament after the election. I have taken careful note of your promise.”
Eralp said that Berlin must become a liveable city in which nobody feels unsafe because of their language, faith, origin or appearance, while Wansner argued that the only way to solve Berlin’s housing problem and curb high rents was to build new homes.
Graf described the rise of the AfD as a danger to democracy and to a pluralist society, stating that the AfD’s aim was to abolish democracy. Addressing discrimination and racism, Krach pointed out that they occur more frequently in working life and on the housing market. Describing Berlin’s pluralist society as a privilege, Krach stressed that division and fragmentation must not be allowed in Berlin.
Opening the meeting, BAT-Cemevi Second Chair Kadir Şahin spoke about the importance of democracy and tolerance, saying: “The second and third generations feel they belong here. We must not allow these people to be portrayed as so-called foreigners.” Speaking for the TBB, spokesperson Ayşe Demir said that democracy is needed by everyone and highlighted the importance of participation and transparency.
Following the speeches, the meeting with voters concluded with a question-and-answer session.
Report and photos: BAT-Cemevi Press Office
