The Green Party, having announced a more aggressive election campaign strategy a month before the federal election, is still hoping to remain in government. “We need to take a bit more of a risk now”said Chancellor candidate Robert Habeck to the Süddeutsche Zeitung (Friday edition).
Although the Greens have gained a few percentage points since the collapse of the government, they still trail behind the SPD, led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, in current polls. In a purely theoretical sense, it is uncertain whether it would be possible to form a coalition with the far-apart Union, led by Friedrich Merz, which would be the only realistic option at the moment.
The Greens, however, still hope for government participation after the election on February 23, according to Habeck. “I do not want to lead the Greens into opposition, only to then win 25 percent in the next election”the Vice-Chancellor added. “Playing to win, not to lose – that’s what it’s all about for me.”
The Green Party’s election campaign has recently been overshadowed by a suspected intrigue in the Berlin state association and Habeck has also faced criticism for an unrefined proposal to tax social contributions on capital gains.