Omid Nouripour, the Vice President of the Bundestag for the Greens, characterized the election of Cem Özdemir as the Minister-President of Baden-Württemberg as a positive endorsement of Germany itself. Speaking to the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung” on Thursday, he stated that Özdemir’s ability to become the Minister-President reinforces the idea of what a wonderful country Germany is. Personally, Nouripour expressed that he was simply delighted by the outcome.
Nouripour, who was born in Tehran and came to Germany as a young person, views his own political career as being linked to Özdemir. He told journalists that he would likely not be where he is today without Cem. Reflecting on his initial encounter with Özdemir on television, he remembered realizing that becoming a party member did not require him to bear the name of a historical figure like Helmut. He credits Özdemir with truly inspiring him.
Katharina Dröge, the Greens’ fraction chair within the Bundestag, viewed Özdemir’s inauguration as a “great” signal. Speaking to RTL and ntv’s “Frühstart” she noted that the fact that it has become naturally accepted in Baden-Württemberg for someone with the name Özdemir to hold the office of Minister-President is a fantastic signal specifically for people of migration background across Germany.
Dröge emphasized the need for such a signal of cohesion and hope, particularly during a time when the Alternative for Germany (AfD) has grown so significantly. Although she sees no immediate political differences with the Greens on the federal level, she confirmed that both parties aim to strengthen the automotive industry and prioritize economic policies.