No time for nostalgia or looking back in anger: Germany’s Greens pivoted into campaign mode at their weekend party conference. The country will elect a new federal parliament on February 23 next year, 7 months earlier than expected, following the collapse of its governing coalition of the Greens, the neoliberal Free Democrats (FDP) and the center-left Social Democrats (SPD), on November 6th
But the Greens, a former protest party, do not want to give up hope of being a ruling power – as part of a fresh coalition. Party leaders have been speaking of taking responsibility for the country in difficult times. Even if that may mean having to enter a coalition with the conservatives of the Christian Democrats (CDU) and Christian Social Union (CSU), who are currently far ahead in opinion polls.
Vice Chancellor and Economy Minister Robert Habeck was elected as the Greens’ lead candidate with 96% of the vote. Democracy was threatened by divisions in society, by right-wing extremism and populists, Habeck said. It was yet to be seen what the election of Donald Trump as the new US President would mean for the security of Germany. In this dramatic situation, also considering the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, the Greens were needed more than ever, according to Habeck. “Germany’s answer to the growing strength of authoritarian regimes is not more nationalism, rather an alliance of democrats in a European Union which is strong and in touch with its citizens,” he said in reference to the success of populist parties in Germany.
Robert Habeck for chancellor?
The Greens are starting this election campaign with their backs to the wall: they only have about 10-12% of the vote according to current polls. It is not only Habeck, but the party’s grassroots members who are determined not to succumb to the temptation to make maximum demands and thereby surely find themselves on the opposition benches. As delegate Andrea Lübcke from Brandenburg told DW: “I see here a party that wants to take responsibility and help shape things. We must show what we have achieved and where we want to go and, in the end, we must make the people a good offer.”
The Greens overhauled their entire leadership team in Wiesbaden. Several weeks ago, the former co-leaders — foreign affairs expert Omid Nouripour and Bundestag parliamentarian Ricarda Lang — announced their resignation in response to hefty defeats in recent polls, including the European Parliament elections in June, when the Greens’ vote share dropped from 20.5 % at the previous election to only 11.9%.
The new co-leaders voted in were Bundestag member Felix Banaszak from North-Rhine Westphalia and Franziska Brantner, who served as state secretary in Habeck’s economy ministry. Banaszak received 93% of delegates’ votes, Brantner about 78%. The 45-year-old social scientist is in Robert Habeck’s inner circle. Her election is proof that the national campaign will be very much tailored around the lead candidate.
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, who was the party’s top candidate in the previous election campaign in 202 expressed interest in keeping her position even after the snap election.The aim is to defend the country and democracy against threats from within and without, above all right- wing extremists and populists, she told party delegates. “Our responsibility as a progressive party is now above all to give security, to protect what is dear and sacred to us.” The enemies of democracy, progress and freedom played on people’s insecurities by “badmouthing Germany every day,” Baerbock continued.
A focus on climate change, infrastructure and housing
As a guest speaker, Germany’s most well-known climate activist Luisa Neubauer from the Fridays for Future movement reminded the Greens not to forget their key issue of combatting climate change in their quest for power. “If you do not honestly and clearly name what is happening in terms of the climate crisis and what still needs to be done in the matter of climate justice, then everyone else will hide behind it.” Neubauer said. She called on Habeck’s team to engage in “a real climate election campaign, that nobody else is doing otherwise.”
The Greens also want to address the housing shortage and renew the country’s ailing infrastructure. These are all projects the center-left coalition had resolved to do but could not implement.
The Greens have switched into election campaign mode. As the party whip in the Bundestag, Britta Hasselmann, told DW: “In view of the situation in the world, the crises and conflicts, Putin’s war of aggression in Ukraine, we would have liked more responsibility for the continuation of this alliance. But now we are looking ahead.”
This sentiment is also driven by the almost 10,000 new members the party has gained since the government broke down. The German Greens now have a membership of about 140,000. Despite this, it would be a massive feat of strength for the party of environmental protection to remain part of the government after February 23, 2025.
This article was originally written in German.
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