Change in leadership among the Greens: Greens want to fight – in ice and snow

At their party conference this Saturday, the Greens want to herald a new beginning and recharge their batteries for the upcoming federal election campaign. Franziska Brantner and Felix Banaszak are the undisputed favorites for co-party leadership. The positions had become vacant because the previous duo, Ricarda Lang and Omid Nouripour, decided to quit early at the end of September.

“In the wind, in the weather, in the ice and in the snow,” an election campaign will be conducted that will be “bright green,” said Minister of State for Culture Claudia Roth on Friday evening in an attempt to motivate the more than 800 delegates in Wiesbaden.

On Saturday evening there will be a debate of ten proposals that received the most support from the Green Party base and will therefore be put to the vote.

This includes, among other things, the reintroduction of a wealth tax, a speed limit and a more liberal migration policy. There is also a proposal under discussion in which the current stationary controls at the German land borders are rejected.

Claudia Roth: Söder is an “accelerator”

The future US President, Donald Trump, “and his cabinet of horrors” stand for the implementation of everything the Greens wanted, Claudia Roth shouted to the delegates. Markus Söder described her as a “fire accelerator” who constantly agitated against the Greens. The Bavarian Prime Minister and CSU chairman has repeatedly ruled out a coalition between the Union and the Greens after the next federal election.

Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck emphasized that it was now pointless to look back on the time of the traffic light government. “There is no FDP, and there is no longer any Christian Lindner in the government,” he said. It is now more important for the Greens to look ahead to the next few weeks until the planned election date on February 23rd. He emphasized what he saw as the unique role of the Greens. “This party has a task: to mark the difference, to give this country orientation.” Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said that the party conference was a place for “recharging our batteries” before the strenuous election campaign.

In 2021, the Greens explicitly nominated a “candidate for chancellor” with Baerbock for the first time. At that time, the party received 14.8 percent of the vote. In the coming election, Habeck, as formulated in the corresponding motion, should run as a “candidate for the people of Germany” who has “what it takes to be a good Chancellor.” He should lead the election campaign as a top duo with Baerbock.

The word “candidate for chancellor” does not appear in the application – even if leading Greens constantly use it. Banaszak said on ZDF’s “Heute Journal” when asked why the Greens didn’t actually name Habeck as a candidate for chancellor: “That’s him, that’s what we say. But it’s not a broad-legged candidacy, like others are doing right now. But one in Humility, in humility before the citizens who decide whether he will ultimately come within the reach of the Chancellor’s office, because we are not there at the moment, but we want to get there.” But Habeck would have to catch up: in current surveys, the Greens are at 11 to 12 percent.

Support for the defense of Ukraine

Several speakers in Wiesbaden supported Ukraine’s defense against the Russian war of aggression. There was very little response from a delegate who said she felt threatened not by Russian President Vladimir Putin or by China, but “by constant warmongering in her own country.”

The co-leader of the Green Youth, Jette Nietzard, warned against tightening asylum laws and criticized the CDU leader. “Friedrich Merz unpacks his hatred of non-white people at every opportunity,” she explained.

Shortly after midnight, the delegates voted on the form of the party conference at which the program for the federal election will be drawn up. This program is intended to be shorter and more concise than is otherwise the case. The delegates should come together in full strength and in presence. The date for this is January 26th, said Pegah Edalatian, who is expected to be elected as the new political director this Saturday. According to information from party circles, it will take place in Berlin.

The Greens also decided on an emergency motion from the board entitled “Responsibility during this time,” in which they take stock of the traffic light coalition, highlight their own successes during their time in government and commit to climate protection.

Voted motions from the Greens at the party conference “Responsibility in this time”