Youth Congress at TU Berlin to Proceed After Compromise
Berlin, June 12, 2026 – A contentious dispute regarding a left-wing youth congress at the Technical University (TU) Berlin has been resolved, with both the university and the organizers announcing a compromise. “The congress will take place,” stated a spokesperson for the Socialist-Democratic Student Association (SDS). The association, in collaboration with ‘Studis gegen Rechts’ of TU Berlin, is hosting the “Take back the future” congress, which is scheduled to commence this evening and run until Sunday.
To ensure the overall continuation of the congress, organizers agreed to relocate four specific program points off-campus. These events are critical discussions focusing on the ideology of the AfD and potential strategies against right-wing politics. Initially, according to the organizers, 14 events were slated for cancellation.
External Pressure Cited as Reason for Compromise
The SDS attributes the need for this compromise to external pressure. Organizers claim that a lawyer exerted pressure on the university, threatening legal action against the congress. This lawyer reportedly invoked the principle of political neutrality. The SDS alleges that this lawyer has close ties to the AfD.
TU Berlin’s Stance on the Controversy
In response to inquiries, a TU spokesperson stated: “The Technical University Berlin is a place for scientific exchange, critical debate, and societal discourse. We strive to keep party-political disputes off campus.” The spokesperson confirmed that, in coordination with the student organizers, the program was reviewed and adjustments were made to certain points.
The spokesperson did not specify which program points were affected nor did she address the question of whether an AfD-affiliated lawyer had threatened legal action against the TU.
Criticism from GEW and The Left Party
The German Education and Science Workers’ Union (GEW) cautioned against a “misunderstanding of state neutrality.” In a statement, the GEW asserted: “State neutrality does not mean equating democratic and anti-democratic positions.” The union questioned why the neutrality principle was invoked in the context of a student-organized congress.
Nicole Gohlke, education policy spokesperson for The Left Party’s parliamentary group, echoed these sentiments. “The neutrality principle is deliberately being used as a weapon against critical engagement with the AfD – and that is a direct attack on academic freedom. Scientifically analyzing and naming fascism is not an opinion, but a core task of the university.”
Over 1,700 Registrations for the Congress
The Socialist-Democratic Student Association is the student organization affiliated with The Left Party. The extensive program for the event includes approximately 90 lectures, primarily focusing on topics such as feminism, fascism, war, and conscription. According to the latest figures from the organizers, more than 1,700 individuals have registered for the congress.
