Elif Eralp, the lead candidate for Germany’s Left Party (Die Linke) in Berlin, is campaigning to become the city’s first governing mayor of Turkish descent.

Berlin is due to hold its state election on September 20, with housing, rents and the city’s political leadership among the central issues of the campaign, according to FT.

Recent polling has shown a close contest between Die Linke and the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). An ARD poll conducted from September 7-9 put Die Linke and the CDU in a statistical tie, while an earlier Infratest dimap survey had the CDU on 21% and Die Linke on 19%.

Eralp, whose family has Turkish roots, joined Die Linke in 2017, the same year the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) entered the Bundestag.

She has since become one of the party’s leading figures in Berlin and is its candidate for governing mayor in the upcoming election.

The party has sought to attract younger urban voters, with the housing crisis emerging as one of its main campaign issues.

One of Die Linke’s key proposals is to implement the result of Berlin’s 2021 referendum on the socialization of large housing companies.

The referendum saw 59.1% of participating voters support a proposal to socialize large residential property holdings. Die Linke has backed a plan involving around 220,000 apartments owned by major corporate landlords.

Eralp has argued that bringing large housing portfolios under public ownership could help keep rents affordable. She has also called for rent-related measures involving state-owned housing companies.

The financial implications of such a policy remain disputed, while its legal implementation would require further steps.

Even if Die Linke finishes first in the election, that would not automatically make Eralp governing mayor. Berlin’s government is formed through the state parliament, meaning coalition negotiations will play a key role in determining who can command a majority.

A September ARD poll found that 23% of respondents considered Eralp a potentially good governing mayor, while 33% said they did not. The survey was conducted among 1,527 eligible voters between September 7 and 9.

Eralp has said she hopes other parties will reach an agreement with Die Linke if her party emerges as the strongest political force.

“Ultimately, if we become the strongest in Berlin, our policies will also prevail,” she said.