In the Vienna election in autumn 2020, Birgit Hebein achieved the best result in the history of the Greens with 14.80 percent – but the alienation began immediately afterwards. After the SPÖ rather formed a coalition with the Neos instead of a new edition with the Greens, Hebein was ousted by the Green City Council Club. Until then she was Vice Mayor, now she should not become a club boss or city councilor without office (these titles exist in Vienna). Hebein then gave up the position of Green Party leader in Vienna at the beginning of 2021.
This weekend, she finally turned her back on her party, for which she had negotiated the coalition agreement with the ÖVP at the side of party leader Werner Kogler in 2019. “I announced my immediate exit from the Green Party. The green policy with all the arguments and non-attitudes no longer reaches my heart,” Hebein said in a statement.
- Video: Birgit Hebein leaves the Greens
“Turquoise path continues”
The immediate cause is primarily the federal government’s refugee policy. Many people would count on the Greens’ fight for climate protection, she pointed out. As a co-negotiator of the turquoise-green coalition, however, she criticizes the fact that democracy, the rule of law and parliament are “developing in a turquoise-authoritarian direction and the turquoise path continues as if nothing had happened”. What is needed are “clear green attitudes and not passivity,” criticized Hebein. “If we look at it honestly, we have reached the limits with the already daring attempt of the strategy to correct course with a government participation. We have destroyed hope. At least I have reached this point and therefore draw the consequences,” said Hebein. There was no reaction from the Federal Green Party.
