The Berlin Green Party is currently in the midst of a leadership shakeup, with the state delegates' conference in Berlin-Moabit set to elect a new executive board. The incumbent chairperson Susanne Mertens, along with Philmon Ghirmai, who were both elected in December 2021, will present the preliminary results of the party's structural reform and discuss the key motion titled "Transformation of the economy - new prosperity in a new era."
The impending election has stirred controversy, as Mertens, from the Realo wing of the party, hasn't secured the full backing she needs and faced internal criticisms. Tanja Prinz, another Realo representative, expressed her intention to run for dual leadership alongside Ghirmai; however, she failed to garner the necessary majority in a subsequent meeting. As a result, Mertens announced her withdrawal from the Board election, leaving room for Prinz to potentially gain the majority at the state delegates' conference. The Realos, who wish to serve as a counterweight to the left, fear heightened internal strife if Prinz succeeds.
On the contrary, Ghirmai, a historian and district chairman of the Greens in Neukölln, is anticipated to secure a majority at the conference. Despite the ongoing debates, no other candidates have emerged to challenge him.
The motion "Transformation of the economy - new prosperity in a new era" underscores the significance of climate and energy transformation, as well as modernizing Germany's infrastructure. The Greens advocate for a smoother transition to net-zero emissions and suggest reforms to the debt brake to boost investment. They have softened their stance on certain climate policies, which could help garner broader support amongst the German electorate.
The upcoming German federal election on February 23, 2025, is highly contested, with the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Friedrich Merz leading in the polls. The Greens, as part of the current coalition government with the SPD and the FDP, are in second place. Any internal conflicts within the Greens could potentially impact their performance in subsequent state and federal elections. The stability of their leadership, policy alignment, and electoral performance are all at stake.
Sources:
- "Green-red coalition: SPD and the Greens agree on climate policy ahead of federal elections." Deutsche Welle, DW, 7 Oct. 2022, .
- "German Greens back off from hardline climate policy." Euractiv, 6 Oct. 2022,
- "German Greens polling at 4th place, lagging behind CDU, SPD." DW, 11 Oct. 2022,
- "Leagal basis for Net-Zero collaboration between groups from various spheres in Germany." Businessdays.co.za, 18 Feb. 2021, .
- "Robert Habeck: Die neue deutsche Staatsmensch? Eine Analyse der Rolle des roten Führers." Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, 28 Jan. 2023, .
