Leading members of the Greens argue that redefining liberalism should become the party’s mandate. In a guest contribution to the “FAZ”, they claim to inherit the legacy of the increasingly popular FDP.
Fran Ziska Brantner, Greens’ national chair, and Belit Onay, the Green mayor of Hannover, note in their article that “the liberal idea is in crisis – but it is not dead”. They argue that a credible new formulation must bring freedom, justice, and sustainability together, rather than pitting them against one another. “This is the constructive task of a new liberalism – and, above all, the task of the Greens” they write.
Their proposals emphasize:
” Individual responsibility and market-based policies without paternalism.
” Mobilizing market forces to address climate protection.
” A European defence union to strengthen security cooperation.
The duo remain skeptical of an overly “research‑driven” gender policy. Brantner and Onay observe that while gender debates have heightened awareness of subtle discrimination, positioning anti‑discrimination arguments against normative universalism weakens the very foundation they seek to protect. They assert that freedom and equality, rooted in the Enlightenment tradition from Locke to Kant, should remain the normative bedrock of any renewed liberalism.