Politics · Germany · 15 hrs ago
Court rejects Berlin Left's bid to stop Hagel's remarks about Eralp
A Stuttgart court rejected the Berlin Left's bid to stop Manuel Hagel from repeating remarks about its leading candidate, Elif Eralp.
Hagel, Baden-Württemberg's interior minister and a Christian Democratic Union politician, called Eralp a "left-wing clan mayor" and offered Berlin police officers the chance to move to the southwest.
The court said he spoke as a party politician, not in an official capacity subject to rules requiring government statements to be factual and neutral.
It said his comments were political opinion protected by freedom of expression, and that mentioning police did not by itself make them official statements.
The dispute followed the Berlin Left's election win on September 20, when it became the strongest party in the city.
The party wants to form a coalition with the Greens and Social Democrats, with Eralp as its candidate for Berlin's governing mayor, and has proposed stopping further police expansion and shifting resources to street social work.
The Left can appeal within two weeks of the decision's announcement to Baden-Württemberg's Higher Administrative Court.
The Stuttgart Administrative Court rejected the Berlin Left’s request to stop Baden-Württemberg Interior Minister Manuel Hagel from making remarks about Elif Eralp.
The court said Hagel spoke as a party politician, not in his official role, and that his comments were protected political speech.
Hagel had called Eralp a “left-wing clan mayor” and offered Berlin police officers the chance to move to Baden-Württemberg.
The Left argued that Hagel had breached the neutrality duty applying to public officials.
The party can appeal within two weeks of the decision being announced.
- Who
- Baden-Württemberg Interior Minister Manuel Hagel and the Berlin Left, whose leading candidate is Elif Eralp.
- What
- The Stuttgart Administrative Court rejected the party’s request to bar Hagel from making two statements.
- When
- The court issued its decision on 22 October 2026.
- Where
- Stuttgart, Germany; the remarks concerned Berlin and Baden-Württemberg.
- Why
- The court said Hagel spoke as a party politician and that his comments were protected by freedom of expression.
Berlin Left
Manuel Hagel
Status of remarks
Berlin Left
The party argued Hagel had spoken as an officeholder and breached the neutrality duty applying to public officials.
Manuel Hagel
Hagel’s remarks were made as a party politician, not in his official capacity.
Whether remarks should be barred
Berlin Left
The party sought a court order preventing the statements from being repeated.
Manuel Hagel
The court rejected the request, finding the comments protected political speech.
The Left became the strongest party by a clear margin in the Berlin election.
Hagel made remarks reported by Bild, including calling the Berlin police “too good for a left-wing clan mayor.
The Südwesten reported 57 new applications from Berlin police officers, according to Bild.
The Stuttgart Administrative Court rejected the Berlin Left’s request to stop Hagel’s remarks.
- Court
- Stuttgart Administrative Court
- Decision
- Request to bar Hagel’s remarks rejected on 22 October 2026
- Appeal deadline
- Within two weeks of the decision’s announcement
- Berlin election
- 20 September 2026
- Police applications
- 57 new applications reported by 20 October, according to Bild
- Target of remarks
- Elif Eralp, the Berlin Left’s leading candidate
3 sources
What people are saying
Das VG Stuttgart hat Recht gesprochen. Wichtig für mich ist meine Arbeit für unser Land. Darauf konzentriere ich mich voll und dafür setze ich meine Energie ein, jeden Tag.
Die Berliner Polizei ist zu schade für eine linke Clan-Bürgermeisterin, die ihr Mittel und Befugnisse nehmen will. Bei uns in Baden-Württemberg wissen wir, was wir an unseren Polizistinnen und Polizisten haben
sicher nicht