The Greens are apparently already exploring coalition options to secure their political future. An alliance with the Union is also being discussed.
Berlin – The political landscape in Germany is facing a possible realignment. The trigger is the many arguments in the traffic light coalition, which are causing the Greens to increasingly look for new coalition options. Leading party politicians such as Franziska Brantner and Katrin Göring-Eckardt are sending out the first signals for possible cooperation with the CDU at the federal level. A significant shift in the country’s political dynamics is underway.
Franziska Brantner, who comes from Baden-Württemberg, where there is already a successful black-green government, emphasized in an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung (FAS) the advantages of pragmatic cooperation with other democratic parties. “Democrats shouldn’t always say which other Democrats they can’t work with. “We should rather see what we can achieve together,” said the promising candidate for the post of chairwoman of the Greens. Brantner is considered a confidant of Economics Minister Robert Habeck.
Söder threatens to veto the black-green coalition, Merz calls for changes
There are divided views within the Union about a possible black-green coalition. CSU boss Markus Söder categorically rejects such cooperation. Bavaria’s Prime Minister even threatened to veto his party if a coalition with the Greens was discussed in the federal government. Green politician Brantner said this in the FAS: “Oh, with Söder, what he says varies depending on his form and time of day.”
CDU chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz is currently ruling out an alliance with the Greens at the federal level. However, the CDU party leader did not want to commit to the future. If the Greens change their views, negotiations about a coalition after the federal election would be conceivable. The South German newspaper Merz said he was interested in “a fundamental course correction in the Greens’ economic and environmental policy.” In Baden-Württemberg, Schleswig-Holstein and North Rhine-Westphalia, where Hendrik Wust (CDU) is head of government, black-green coalitions are already in power.
Overview of black-green alliances at state level
- Baden-Württemberg: The CDU and the Greens have governed under Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann since 2016.
- Schleswig-Holstein: Prime Minister Daniel Günther (CDU) has led a black-green coalition since 2022.
- North Rhine-Westphalia: Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst has also led an alliance between the CDU and the Greens since 2022.
Friedrich Merz and Robert Habeck: Negotiations after the federal election?
But Friedrich Merz also knows that the result of the next federal election may hardly allow any other options than an alliance with the Greens. The CDU leader could rely on the support of many state associations. According to a report from the news agency, these appeared AFP mostly open to talks with Robert Habeck’s Greens. This was also confirmed by CDU general secretaries at the state level – including Paul Ziemiak, general secretary of the CDU North Rhine-Westphalia. He emphasized the importance of being able to talk to all democratic parties.
CDU representatives in the eastern German states are more hesitant. There were no comments from Brandenburg, Saxony and Thuringia on the discussion about a possible black-green coalition. Apparently there are doubts about the alliance not only in Bavaria.
Robert Habeck plays a central role for the Greens in the federal election
Whether a black-green alliance has a chance in the federal government depends primarily on one person: Robert Habeck. The Greens’ potential candidate for chancellor in the federal election is likely to play a central role in the direction of the party in the coming months. Recent developments within the Greens, such as the announced withdrawal of party leaders Ricarda Lang and Omid Nouripour after the state elections in Brandenburg, suggest that the party could focus on Habeck. Then it is primarily up to him to decide which coalition options would be realistic.
The experiences with black-green coalitions in federal states such as Baden-Württemberg, Schleswig-Holstein and North Rhine-Westphalia show that such alliances can be successful. These are experiences that serve the Greens and the Union as a model for nationwide cooperation. Ultimately, the result of the upcoming federal election will determine which coalition negotiations will be held. (dil)
#Habeck #options #Greens #sending #signals #CDU