Katharina Dröge, the Greens’ parliamentary group leader in the Bundestag, does not expect her colleague Cem Özdemir to bring former Tübingen mayor Boris Palmer into his cabinet after the recent election win in Baden‑Württemberg.
On being asked by T‑Online how she would react if Özdemir appointed the controversial ex‑Greens member as a minister, Dröge said, “I don’t think he would do that”. She added, “I’m sure he will form his cabinet diversely, and that also means it must have broad support from the party”. According to her, Özdemir will find a way to achieve that.
Dröge also said she does not expect Özdemir to interfere in federal politics. “I think, from his perspective, he has been entrusted with the most splendid office that exists: the Minister‑President of Baden‑Württemberg” she explained. “So his focus is now on Baden‑Württemberg, and we’re proud of what he has achieved”.
Regarding discussions about the Greens’ political direction, she was blunt: “I’m not interested in a faction fight, to be honest. In the end we are all Greens in this party”. She noted that a campaign can never be copied entirely for the next election. “A few months ago many said we had to do it the way the new New York mayor Zohran Mamdani does; now many say, ‘Wow, what Özdemir achieved-we should do it the same way.'” For her, mere copying is not the solution.