In a recent speech, the Green Party’s chancellor candidate, Robert Habeck, criticized the current tone of the election debates, describing it as unyielding and uncompromising. When asked if he was referring to the Union’s chancellor candidate, Friedrich Merz, who recently announced a more uncompromising stance on migration policy, Habeck left the question open.
Habeck emphasized the need for responsibility in these challenging times, stating that the Greens do not duck away from the issues. He called for a commitment to tolerance and openness to come from the heart of society, citing the recent mass demonstrations against right-wing extremism as a sign of a nation awakening.
The Green Party candidate also emphasized the importance of democracy, stating that it cannot be entrusted to individual ministers and that it is not a spectator sport. He saw the current situation as an opportunity for the country to rediscover itself, but warned that the world is not waiting for the Greens.
Habeck also addressed the recent murder in Aschaffenburg, describing it as an “absurd and brutal act”that left him speechless. He called for a hard and honest analysis of the incident, including an examination of whether it could have been prevented and whether the legal frameworks in place are sufficient.
Furthermore, he warned against the Union’s potential shift towards the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). He argued that unity does not mean a lack of compromise and that it is not acceptable to either agree with the AfD or align with right-wing radicals. Habeck described such an approach as “not the middle, but an ideology.