Allegations of Intrigue Surround Berlin's Green Party

The political landscape of Berlin's Green Party has been shaken by allegations of sexual misconduct against Stefan Gelbhaar, a Bundestag representative since 2017. In January, Gelbhaar was removed from his candidacy for the Pankow electoral district after accusations emerged from multiple women claiming they had been harassed by him. However, recent developments have cast doubt on the credibility of these allegations.

Kerstin Müller, the former chair of the Green parliamentary group, has suggested that the allegations against Gelbhaar may be the result of an orchestrated campaign aimed at discrediting him. She expressed her belief that the timing of the accusations, which surfaced just before the list for candidates was to be finalized, was suspicious. Müller emphasized her support for the presumption of innocence and indicated that the individual making the accusations could face legal consequences if found to have fabricated claims.

Gelbhaar, who previously secured nearly 98% of the votes for his candidacy in November, withdrew from the race shortly before the party was set to finalize its candidate list in response to the allegations. Following his withdrawal, members of the local party convened and elected Julia Schneider as the new candidate. Schneider, a current member of the Berlin House of Representatives, noted that the decision to remove Gelbhaar was a political rather than a judicial one, indicating that the party was responding to the allegations, but did not delve into the specifics of the accusations.

Investigations by the 'Tagesspiegel' revealed that one of the key accusers, identified only as Anne K., may not even exist. This finding prompted the RBB, a major broadcasting network, to revise its earlier coverage and acknowledge that some anonymous reports submitted to the party's ombudsman could potentially be traced back to the same individual. This raises questions about the total number of allegations against Gelbhaar, which were previously reported to be as high as twelve.

Internal opinions among Green Party members remain divided. While some believe that the numerous complaints lend weight to the accusations, others are skeptical about the timing and nature of the reports. Notably, no formal police complaints have been filed by any of the individuals involved, which further complicates the narrative.

With the deadline for nominating candidates fast approaching, Gelbhaar's chances of being reinstated as a candidate for the upcoming Bundestag elections appear slim. The internal party dynamics and the ongoing scrutiny over the allegations have left the Green Party navigating a challenging political climate.