Betül Havva Yılmaz nominated for Berlin State Parliament

Betül Havva Yılmaz, an academic dismissed from Eskişehir Osmangazi University in 2017 via a statutory decree (KHK) in Turkey, has become a candidate for the Berlin State Parliament. Representing the Die Linke (Left Party) on the Neukölln list, Yılmaz is running in the elections scheduled for September 20, 2026.

Yılmaz, who is also a member of the Workers' Party of Turkey (TİP) Germany organization, highlighted the importance of migrant participation in political decision-making processes. She noted that while Neukölln has a high migrant population and higher-than-average poverty levels, migrants are often excluded from political mechanisms. She also criticized the lack of voting rights for migrants who do not yet hold German citizenship.

Regarding the political climate in Germany, Yılmaz addressed the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), stating that economic crises and political insecurity provide a foundation for such movements to redirect social anger toward migrants and minorities.