After the Union accepted a proposal in the Bundestag with the help of AfD votes, several Green Party politicians announced they would not choose CDU leader Friedrich Merz as chancellor in a potential green-black coalition. “I will never vote for a Friedrich Merz who would rather work with Nazis than with democrats” said Katrin Schmidberger, the Green Party’s direct candidate in Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, to the Tagesspiegel (Friday edition).
Timon Dzienus, a former spokesperson for the Green Youth and a candidate for the Bundestag on a secure list in Lower Saxony, also exercised sharp criticism of Merz. “Whoever collaborates with fascists has no chancellor format” he told the newspaper. “Friedrich Merz is unfit to be chancellor.” Dzienus fears that someone who has worked with the AfD once will do so again. “It’s now every day to be used to prevent Friedrich Merz from becoming chancellor.”
The Green Party’s member of parliament, Kathrin Henneberger, expects a course correction from Merz. “A chancellor must be able to critically reflect on their actions, acknowledge mistakes when they are made” she said to the Tagesspiegel. Merz has “not a spark of remorse” shown after working “with fascists” she added. “Under these circumstances, he will not get my vote.”
Johannes Wagner, a Green Party member of parliament in the Bundestag from Bavaria, wants to remain in conversation with all democratic parties, but with a red line in mind – or a “firewall.” “You cannot cooperate with parties that are hostile to the constitution” he said to the newspaper. Merz has caused significant damage to his credibility, according to Wagner. “I have doubts about his suitability as chancellor.