After the Greens’ victory in Baden‑Württemberg and the FDP’s disastrous result in its home state, the party plans to draw Liberal voters away from the free‑market bloc in future contests. “We will learn from this election, especially in light of the FDP’s weakness” Green group leader Britta Haßelmann told the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” (Thursday edition). “We also want to make an offer to FDP voters”.
The FDP fell to just 4.4 % of the second votes in the state election held on Sunday, losing all seats in the Landtag. Haßelmann said that the issues the party once championed-freedom, rule of law, and civil rights-are “extremely important today” and stressed that “they also belong to our core”.
She pointed out that the Baden‑Württemberg election demonstrated how little influence the FDP currently has. “We have to say it plainly: the FDP has hardly any power to mobilise this potential itself” she added. “For us, the Greens, the potential is huge”.
Haßelmann rejected sharply a proposal from CDU caucus chair Jens Spahn to split the term of the prime minister because of the deadlock in the Stuttgart parliament. “That is really ridiculous” she said. “We know that Jens Spahn can be very audacious and likes to make daring demands. Split the office? The Greens won the election and appoint the prime minister” she emphasized. The result was close, a scenario not unfamiliar in other elections, yet no one has yet questioned this practice.