Leading figures of the Greens’ “Realo” wing have urged the federal association of the Greens Youth to adjust its direction. “Those who refuse to meet the middle of society are simply targeting a niche; it may be convenient, but it solves no problems” said Greens politician and Bundestag vice‑president Omid Nouripour in an interview with “Spiegel”.
Nouripour praised the Baden‑Württemberg and Hessian state branches of the Greens Youth for their work. Both had carried out a “great campaign” focusing on real issues during the recent West German state election in the southwest and the local elections in Hesse. “Other parties, unfortunately, rely largely on loud slogans” he added.
Baden‑Württemberg’s Finance Minister Danyal Bayaz pointed out that in the last Bundestag election young people tended to vote for the AfD and the Left instead of the Greens, while the state’s top candidate, Cem Özdemir, had scored strongly among young voters and first‑time voters on March 8. Bayaz urged the federal Greens Youth to “take more risks in insight, less certainty”.
The two federal co‑chairs of the Greens Youth, Henriette Held and Luis Bobga, defended criticism of Özdemir later that same night. Held noted that, in addition to working with the party, their role includes scrutinising the party and sparking internal debate. “It would have been inauthentic for us to pretend we agreed with every position after the Baden‑Württemberg election” she told “Spiegel”.
Bobga explained that many young people, especially those with a migration background, feel underrepresented by the Greens. “They tell us they dislike the shift in migration policy that has taken place over the last years” he said.
During the election night, on NTV, Bobga highlighted that after weeks with Özdemir he remains uncertain whether a strong electoral result necessarily translates into good policy for the people of Baden‑Württemberg. Özdemir had just narrowly won the state parliamentary election against CDU candidate Manuel Hagel on March 8.