Cem Özdemir, the Greens’ top candidate for Baden‑Württemberg’s state election, has said that, if he wins, he could bring independent politicians into his cabinet.
In an interview with the Süddeutsche Zeitung Özdemir explained, “In this matter I am very pragmatic. The best idea matters, not the party book”.
He had demanded from his own party that it grant him “maximum freedom-in the campaign and in the content”. The Greens assured him that this would hold true both before and after the vote.
Since a joint appearance with Boris Palmer during the campaign, speculation has grown that Özdemir might appoint the independent mayor of Tübingen to his cabinet if he becomes premier. Palmer left the party in May 2023 after a fresh controversy.
Özdemir also pledged to keep Baden‑Württemberg’s automotive industry central. As premier he would lobby Brussels to strengthen the state’s core sector. “The EU Commission should require Chinese carmakers that want to invest or manufacture in Europe to meet local‑content rules and collaborate with local suppliers” he said. He added that Beijing imposes conditions on German automakers operating in China, and as premier he would push to reverse that principle.