The Die Linke parliamentary faction is currently under pressure regarding the allegations against party colleague Ferat Kocak. Dietmar Bartsch, a member of the faction, explicitly ruled out providing unconditional support for Kocak, stating to the television channel “Welt” that there is no room for blanket solidarity, while acknowledging the ongoing nature of the issue: “I think it is correct that there is no unconditional solidarity on one side, and that this matter remains open on the other. We will have a talk about it with him.”
Bartsch did not publicly comment on whether Kocak must resign his mandate. He explained that this is primarily a matter for the faction leadership to decide, adding that the decision to step down would ultimately be Kocak’s own if he chose to do so.
Significantly, Bartsch took a firm stance against antisemitism within the party, declaring, “Antisemitism must not have a place-in Berlin, in Die Linke, or anywhere else-without question.” However, he concurrently admitted that the party faces certain issues. “I am not blind; I see that we have problems there, and corresponding action will be taken,” he stated.
Regarding the statements made by Berlin Die Linke politician Vanessa Emde, Bartsch declined to evaluate them definitively. Nevertheless, he deemed her participation in a campaign in Neukölln, urging “Freedom for Palestine,” problematic, given that the issue was not determined by the Berlin House of Representatives. He concluded that it remains an issue that must be addressed and decided upon in Berlin.
