MERA25, the German political party of DiEM25, is proud to introduce its diverse and dynamic slate of candidates for the upcoming German federal election on February 23. Reflecting our commitment to inclusivity and representation, half of our candidates come from immigrant backgrounds, embodying the rich tapestry of Germany’s working class. 

Precisely, 50 percent of our candidates have immigrant backgrounds 30 percent are gender non-conforming or LGBTQIA+, and 70 percent come from working class background or are working class.

Their personal journeys – from overcoming adversity to building successful lives – mirror the resilience and determination we champion. Our campaign is focused in three key federal states: Berlin, North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), and Bremen.

Here is a closer look at each of our candidates:

Abdullah Sarı (NRW)

Abdullah Sarı is a student of English and philosophy, with international experience in education, including teaching in a U.S. prison. Growing up in Cologne’s working-class Chorweiler-Nord as the grandson of guest workers, he has firsthand experience with social inequality and poverty. His political awareness deepened through refugee aid work in 2015, exposing him to the inhumanity of European migration policies.

Bircan Sönmez (NRW)

Bircan Sönmez, a 47-year-old communications designer, educator, and mother, has experienced firsthand how the system entrenches social inequality. As a single mother and educator, she has fought against systemic barriers and now refuses to stand by as populism, discrimination, and social injustice divide the country. Her priorities include free childcare and education, social security reforms, and affordable housing. In the Bundestag, she would push for equal rights, protections for children and minorities, and fair wages. She urges voters to support candidates with real-life experience, not career politicians tied to lobbyists.

Jan Worpenberg (MERA25 Bremen)

Coming from a working-class family, Jan Worpenberg has faced firsthand the barriers of an unequal system, from financial struggles in education to structural injustices in academia. A survivor of a far-right attack in 2024, he is committed to fighting right-wing extremism and strengthening leftist movements. His priorities include social justice, fair wages, and dismantling far-right networks. In the Bundestag, he would push for equal opportunities in education and work, economic security, and stronger protections against right-wing violence.

Recep Murat Güner (NRW)

Recep Murat Güner, a 32-year-old philosophy and sociology student, is driven by the experiences of his grandfather, a guest worker, and the ongoing marginalization of people with migrant backgrounds. He believes politics should be a tool for real change, not just administration. His priorities include greater citizen participation, fighting corruption, and ensuring fair wealth distribution. In the Bundestag, he would push for true democracy, transparency, and social justice. He calls on voters to reject empty promises from big parties and support MERA25 for real transformation.

Silvio Marx (MERA25)

Silvio Marx, a 33-year-old environmental scientist, sees climate justice as inseparable from social inequality and colonial history. Politicized by the Syrian civil war, Germany’s rightward shift, and the failures of COP climate summits, he believes in bold action rather than passive observation. His priorities include strong social policies, a just green transformation, and ending austerity through state investment. In the Bundestag, he would push for sustainable policies, economic justice, and an end to neoliberal cutbacks. He urges voters to support real change, reminding them that every movement starts small.

Niklas Sense (MERA25 Bremen)

Niklas Sense, a 33-year-old development worker with experience in Beirut, Ramallah, and Bremen, was politicized by his work in Syria, Palestine, and Lebanon, as well as his experiences as a queer man. Outraged by Germany’s support for oppression in Palestine and the criminalization of protest, he joined MERA25 as the only party committed to true global justice. His priorities include diplomacy over imperialist violence, migration justice, and intersectional solidarity. In the Bundestag, he would advocate for international peace, inclusive education, and the protection of marginalized communities, urging voters to break with establishment parties that uphold oppression.

Jibran Khan (MERA25 Köln, Co-Coordinator)

Jibran Khan, a media artist and video editor, sees film and politics as tools for societal change. Joining MERA25 in April 2024, he believes Europe stands at a crossroads between socialism and fascism, with the current system serving corporations over people. His priorities include strengthening workers’ rights, taxing the super-rich for social justice, and promoting humane migration policies. In the Bundestag, he would fight for fair wages, wealth redistribution, and open borders. Rejecting establishment parties as part of the problem, he vows to relentlessly push for real change.

Jessica Querl (NRW)

Jessica Querl, a teacher and MERA25 member since 2024, witnesses daily how the education system fails and why real change is needed. Frustrated by the consequences of poor social and education policies, she joined MERA25 because it offers bold solutions where mainstream parties fall short. Her priorities include equal education opportunities, job security, and fair taxation of the wealthy. In the Bundestag, she would push for education reform, guaranteed jobs, and tax justice. She urges voters to reject establishment parties that block progress and support MERA25 for a fairer future.

Salsabil (MERA25 NRW, Bundestag Candidate)

Salsabil, an informatics and psychology professional and mother with a migration background, has been active with MERA25 since the European elections. She believes politics must reflect society, advocating for equal opportunities, anti-racism, and digital self-determination as essential for a just future. Her priorities include equality, fair digital policies free from corporate influence, and true diversity in politics. In the Bundestag, she would focus on supporting community organizations, investing in free public transport, and decriminalizing international solidarity. She urges voters to support MERA25 for real change, rejecting the elitism of mainstream parties.

Yasser Maslout-Siegfried (MERA25 Bremen)

Yasser Maslout-Siegfried, a web developer and activist born in Cairo, was politically shaped by his experience witnessing the 2011 Egyptian revolution. Active with MERA25 since 2024, he believes democracy requires bold voices that cannot be bought. His priorities include implementing a universal basic income for social security, protecting democracy and human rights, and pursuing climate justice free from corporate interests. In the Bundestag, he would advocate for a universal basic income, safeguarding democracy, and sustainable climate policies. He urges voters to choose MERA25 for transparency and real political change without lobbyist influence.

Johannes Fehr (MERA25, Vice-Chair & DiEM25 Coordination Collective)

Since 2016, Johannes Fehr has been active in DiEM25, organizing protests and now serving as MERA25’s Vice-Chair. With a background in renewable energy and sustainable economics, he advocates for a just ecological transition that is also socially equitable. He is driven by the need to address global crises such as climate change, social inequality, and war, where mainstream parties offer no solutions. His priorities include a socially responsible energy transition, fair economic policies, and peace over militarization. Fehr urges voters to support MERA25 for real transformation, as it is the only political force demonstrating the necessary courage.

Marie-Alice Morel (MERA25 Berlin, Chair & Bundestag Candidate)

Marie-Alice Morel, Chair of MERA25 Berlin, is a law scholar and activist for social justice, fighting for marginalized communities, anti-colonialism, and digital freedoms as a German-Haitian woman. She believes Germany needs honest, anti-colonial, and anti-imperialist politics, where digital rights, social justice, and the fight against racism are finally prioritized. Her focus includes combating systemic injustice and racism, breaking colonial structures in German politics, and protecting digital freedoms. She urges voters to choose MERA25 for real change, as it fights where others remain silent, for a fairer future.

Annalena Falk (Bremen)

Annalena Falk, a board member of MERA25 Bremen since 2024, entered politics out of the belief that justice must be actively fought for. She opposes backroom politics and advocates for social justice, inclusivity, environmental and animal protection, and reducing corporate influence in politics. Falk prioritizes strengthening democratic participation, ensuring an inclusive education and healthcare system, and linking climate action with social justice. She chose MERA25 for its strong stance on Palestine solidarity, which she found lacking in other leftist parties. She urges voters to support new, bold politics for real change.

Melanie Johanna Schweizer (Berlin)

Melanie Johanna Schweizer, a fully qualified lawyer and MERA25 member since 2024, specializes in international law and human rights. Her work at the German Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs and the ongoing injustice in Palestine, particularly after 2023, motivated her political engagement. As a candidate for Berlin Mitte, she advocates for human rights protection, social justice, and diplomacy over violence. Her priorities in the Bundestag include strengthening fundamental rights, ensuring freedoms for marginalized groups, and promoting peace through diplomacy. She urges voters to support MERA25 for real justice and peace-focused change.

Carolina Rehrmann (Berlin)

Carolina Rehrmann, a scientist specializing in social psychology and conflict research, focuses on how language shapes narratives to justify war and create enemies. A life-changing moment during childbirth in November 2023, when she contrasted her medical care with the suffering of women in Gaza, drove her to enter politics. She advocates for breaking away from outdated ideologies, ending war propaganda, establishing a fair financial system with universal basic income, and investing in education and public infrastructure. In the Bundestag, she prioritizes economic justice, social security, and an ecological transition. She calls for bold transformation through MERA25, rejecting the status quo.

Lisa Behr (Berlin)

Lisa Behr, a 25-year-old political science student and activist, has been involved with MERA25 for eight months. Coming from a working-class background and having volunteered at EU border camps in Lesvos, she fights for social justice and the end of capitalism. Germany’s racist migration policies and stance on Palestine drove her to political activism. She advocates for fair wages and better labor conditions, humane migration policies without detention camps, and an anti-imperialist foreign policy, including recognizing Palestine and ending arms exports to Israel. In the Bundestag, she prioritizes workers’ rights, human-centered migration policies, and international solidarity. She believes only radical change, as pushed by MERA25, can bring true justice.

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