Landtag election 2026: Özdemir elected to the top candidate of the southwest green

Former Federal Minister of Agriculture Cem Özdemir, as the top candidate of the Baden-Württemberg Greens, moved to the 2026 state election. 194 delegates voted for him, three against him, three abstained.

Özdemir is said to secure power to the Greens after 15 years of office of Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann and become the second green prime minister in the history of the Federal Republic. In the race for the successor of Kretschmann, who no longer competes after three terms, Özdemir meets CDU party and group leader Manuel Hagel. The 37-year-old was elected top candidate by his party last weekend.

CDU is ahead in surveys, but Özdemir is popular

The starting point for Özdemir and the Greens could be better. The party has been significantly behind the CDU in the surveys for many months. In the most recent survey by SWR and “Stuttgarter Zeitung”, the eco -party landed at 20 percent, the CDU came to 31 percent, the AfD received 19 percent.

However, Özdemir’s personal survey values ​​are better. If people in the country could vote directly to the head of government, the Greens would clearly win: According to a current SWR survey, 39 percent of the Özdemir surveyed would like to be prime minister. At 18 percent, his CDU competitor Hail did not even want half as many interviewed.

He did not want to compete inherit or the heir to the throne, said Özdemir in his application speech. “I want to open a new chapter for Baden-Württemberg.” In the election campaign, he also wanted to show clear edge in the election campaign. “In the election campaign, I will not help to divide our homeland apart, to raise people against each other,” said Özdemir.

Kretschmann: Özdemir is from prime minister-wood

Prime Minister Kretschmann had previously praised his potential successor in his speech as down -to -earth, pragmatic, close to home – and at the same time praised cosmopolitan. Özdemir was carved through and through from prime minister wood, said Kretschmann. The country needs a leader that can lead from day one.

In addition to the election of Özdemir, the preparation of a state list for the state election is on the program at the party congress in Heidenheim. This is a novelty, because in the election, a new right to vote applies for the first time, which, in addition to the first vote for the constituency candidate, also provides for a second vote for the state list of a party.

However, Özdemir does not have the front on the list due to a special regulation of the Greens, in front of him in front of him in 1st place Minister Thekla Walker. Özdemir is then only planned in second place. The reason for this is the party’s so -called women’s statute. This stipulates that electoral lists have to be occupied with women at least half – and that women are reserved for the odd places. Men can therefore run in second place on the list at the earliest.