Anne Helm: Change of location after a turbulent time in the House of Representatives

Anne Helm: Change of location after a turbulent time in the House of Representatives

The political landscape in Berlin is facing change: Anne Helm, co-leader of the Left in the Berlin House of Representatives, has announced that she will not run again in the 2026 elections. In a conversation with rbb24 Helm said she made her decision after careful consideration. The last five years have been challenging for her, and she is increasingly questioning whether the job still fits her self-image.

Helm, who is 34 years old and has led the parliamentary group since 2022, had already joined the Left in 2016 and was previously a member of the Pirate Party for five years. In her political career she has been particularly committed to the rights of migrants and women and has spoken out vehemently against right-wing extremism.

Threats from right-wing extremists

However, the challenges are not just political. Helm sees himself as being targeted by the right-wing scene and has received threatening letters signed “NSU 2.0”. These threats are brutal and contain not only allusions to right-wing extremist terrorists, but also sexualized torture fantasies. One suspect linked to 115 of 133 threatening letters has already been caught by police, which Helm sees as progress but not enough. The fact that her name is on so-called enemy lists has significantly affected her sense of security.

She reported on her mixed experiences with police protection and expressed her distrust of the security authorities, especially in the context of “NSU 2.0”. Helm takes the threats seriously and has concerns about the response of security forces in such cases.

Political commitment and future paths

Despite the personal dangers, Helm remains politically active. She has emphasized that she would also like to get involved in voluntary political activities. However, turning away from an active political career does not mean the end of her interests in politics. Helm is also a voice actress and has over 30 years of professional experience in the field, portraying well-known voices such as Margot Robbie and Michelle Dockery.

In a larger context, Helm's case highlights the risks that women in politics face due to increasing right-wing populism. According to research by TERRE DES FEMMES Anti-feminist and right-wing extremist movements are on the rise in Germany and Europe. These threatening developments not only affect the safety of politicians like Helm, but also the social acceptance of feminist ideas as a whole.

Helm has decided to retire from active politics, but the issues she advocates for, particularly the rights of women and migrants, remain central in an increasingly polarized political climate in Germany.