The Green Party’s three-day national convention in Hanover concluded Sunday, marked by internal debates and critical assessments of the current governing coalition. The final day focused on proposals concerning taxation and energy policy, alongside a scheduled address from former Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir, a prominent figure expected to lead the Green Party’s campaign in Baden-Württemberg’s upcoming state election.
The convention’s commencement on Friday witnessed a sharp rebuke of the “black-red” (conservative-social democratic) federal government. Party leader Franziska Brantner delivered a scathing critique, alleging prolonged economic stagnation alongside a widening wealth gap, with a significant proportion of children experiencing poverty. Her co-leader, Felix Banaszak, echoed this sentiment, advocating for a clearer definition of the Green Party’s identity and policy positions within the government.
Discussions surrounding foreign policy took center stage on the second day, culminating in a new approach to Middle East policy. The party formally resolved to emphasize the right to self-determination for Palestinians, although an immediate recognition of Palestine as a state ultimately failed to garner majority support, revealing underlying divisions within the party on the issue.
The ongoing debate on military service also elicited significant discussion. The Greens have opted for a mandatory registration process affecting all young men, but resisted calls for a formal mandatory service obligation, effectively overriding the position of the Green Youth wing. Conversely, the Green Youth’s initiative advocating for a return to a nine-euro monthly price for the Deutschlandticket (national public transport ticket) proved successful, despite opposition from the party’s executive, which had proposed a price of 49 euros. This victory highlights the ongoing tension between the party’s established leadership and its younger, more progressive members, particularly concerning social and economic policy. The convention’s deliberations expose a party grappling with its role in the governing coalition, navigating internal disagreements and attempting to balance pragmatic compromise with its core ideological principles.