Green Youth bids farewell to Jette Nietzard as she steps down from her role
Jette Nietzard, the chairwoman of the Greens Youth, announced her resignation from the position in July 2025, citing escalating internal conflicts, growing hostility within the party, and disagreements over the party’s political direction and communication style.
Her resignation follows a period marked by significant controversies and public clashes. Nietzard reported being booed, shouted at by senior party members, and even having calls for her resignation from prominent figures such as Baden-Württemberg’s Green Premier Winfried Kretschmann and other party leaders. She attributed these tensions to a broader atmosphere of intolerance toward her left-wing views within the Greens.
Nietzard drew criticism for her actions and statements, including publicly wearing a sweater with the slogan “ACAB” (“All Cops Are Bastards”) inside the Bundestag, which provoked calls for her resignation. She also caused controversy by referring to the October 7 massacre of Israeli citizens by Hamas terrorists as a “military operation” and posting a contentious remark on New Year’s Eve about firecracker injuries, which she later deleted.
Nietzard accused right-wing media of orchestrating campaigns against her and criticized the Greens leadership for allegedly yielding to such “tone-policing” pressures.
Nietzard's comment about resistance to a possible AfD government, specifically the mention of the possibility of resistance being with weapons, caused controversy. She did not apologize for the "ACAB" post but explained that she does not hate the police as a whole, but rather the system behind it and its current structure.
The Green Youth will undergo a leadership shakeup with Nietzard stepping down, potentially signaling shifts in the youth wing’s influence and policies. Felix Banaszak, chair of the Green Party, acknowledged the differences but expressed respect for Nietzard’s decision, emphasizing the need for ongoing dialogue with the youth faction.
Nietzard’s resignation underscores challenges the Greens face balancing radical internal voices with broader electoral strategy, and it may affect the party’s appeal among younger, left-leaning voters.
In the RBB podcast, Nietzard discussed the possibility of resistance to a potential AfD government and the methods it could take. Nietzard has been accused of making headlines for the wrong reasons and has been criticized by more moderate Green members, including former agriculture minister Cem Özdemir, who demanded her resignation.
Nietzard stated that she had always been stepping on toes and has made headlines with provocative statements on multiple occasions. In May, she shared a photo on her Instagram channel wearing a pullover with the inscription "ACAB."
Nietzard's stance on the police system and the "ACAB" post have been subjects of public discussion. She stated that there are no reasonable police studies or structural examination of violence and alleged racist tendencies.
In her Instagram post announcing her decision, Nietzard stated that she had been repeatedly criticized by more moderate Green members. She did not apologize for her actions but emphasized the need for a more open and honest dialogue within the party.
The "ACAB" post by Nietzard caused controversy, but she did not issue an apology. Her resignation marks a significant moment in the German political landscape, highlighting ongoing tensions within the Greens about ideology, tactics, and communication.
- Jette Nietzard's resignation as chairwoman of the Greens Youth in July 2025, due to internal conflicts and disagreements over policy and communication style, has sparked debates about war-and-conflicts, policy-and-legislation, and politics within the party, as her controversial statements on topics such as police system, resistance to a potential AfD government, and the "ACAB" post have received criticism from both party members and the public.
- The resignation of Jette Nietzard and the controversies surrounding her actions and statements have brought issues of general-news, including tolerance, intolerance, and the balance between radical internal voices and broader electoral strategy, to the forefront of discussions within the Greens, shedding light on the ongoing tensions and challenges faced by the party in shaping its policy-and-legislation and communication style.
