German Greens’ Leader Criticizes Call for ‘Western Revival’
Michael Kellner, the chair of the Eastern group in the Green Party’s Bundestag faction, has sharply criticized the demand for a “Western Revival” made by Mona Neubaur, the deputy Minister-President of North-Rhine Westfalia and also a member of the Green Party. In a guest article published in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Neubaur called for a “Western Revival” to address the neglected regions in the west of the country, citing the need for a fair and effective distribution of public funds.
Kellner, a former parliamentary state secretary in the Federal Ministry of Economics, responded to the article, stating that he perceives the contribution as divisive. “We do not need a wedge between East and West, but rather support according to need, not by compass directions” he said in an interview with the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland. Kellner emphasized that funds should be allocated to where they are needed and that structurally weak areas can be found not only in Eastern Germany, but also in other parts of the country.
Neubaur had initially emphasized that her proposal was not about East versus West, but rather about the fair and effective distribution of public funds, which is essential for social peace. However, she then went on to argue that a “Western Revival” is necessary, citing the neglect of many western cities and regions over the years. She specifically mentioned North-Rhine Westfalia, where she said that the consequences of this neglect are being felt, including crumbling bridges, rundown schools and a public transportation system that is reaching its limits, as well as municipalities that are no longer able to sustain essential services on their own.