A member of the Berlin Left’s state board has sparked controversy after calling for cuts to police funding during her party’s congress—despite new data which shows a sharp rise in extremist violence in the German capital.
Speaking at the party gathering in Berlin-Lichtenberg, Jorinde Schulz criticized what she described as excessive police presence and spending.
Police everywhere, security nowhere…. excessive police violence at Palestine demonstrations.
Schulz called for sweeping structural changes, including an end to certain police units, surveillance technology, and equipment purchases.
The speech culminated in a call to withdraw funding from law enforcement, echoing a leftist U.S. slogan:
Let’s defund the Police!
The remarks came as the party launched its campaign for the upcoming Berlin parliamentary election, focusing on issues such as rent control, wealth taxation, and lowering living costs.
The debate unfolds against a backdrop of rising left-wing extremist violence in Berlin. According to preliminary data from the Berlin Senate, left-wing violence nearly doubled in 2025, increasing from 123 to 220 recorded incidents. In total, 872 left-wing politically motivated crimes were registered over the year.
Authorities also reported a surge in antisemitic offenses, which reached a record 2,112 cases, alongside 508 religiously motivated crimes. Police conducted 19 terrorism-related investigations linked to religious ideology.
The increase in left-wing extremism has also been reflected in property damage, with 407 vehicles set on fire and a further 231 damaged by spreading flames.
