Green Youth's Leader Nietzard Steps Down from Re-election Race
In a surprising turn of events, Jette Nietzard, the former Co-Chair of the Green Youth, has announced she will not seek re-election, citing internal hostilities and a culture of conformity within the Greens as her reasons.
Nietzard's decision comes after a series of controversial actions and statements that have caused head-scratching among Green members and sparked debate within and outside the party.
One of Nietzard's most notable actions was her call for armed resistance against the right-wing AfD party potentially attaining power in 2029. This call for violence, framed as resistance against fascism, raised questions about the appropriate form of opposition to the AfD.
Earlier, in May 2025, Nietzard stirred controversy with an Instagram photo of her wearing a sweater emblazoned with the slogan “ACAB” (“All Cops Are Bastards”), along with a cap saying “Eat the Rich.” The photo was widely criticized, including by Baden-Württemberg’s Green Premier Winfried Kretschmann, who called for her resignation from the party.
Nietzard also apologized for comments she made minimizing the impact of Hamas attacks in the Israel-Palestine conflict, acknowledging the emotional sensitivity and the backlash from these statements.
Internally, Nietzard expressed frustration with the Green Party’s leadership and culture, claiming she was often booed and shouted at during meetings, and felt that her left-wing radical views were frequently unwelcome. She indicated that these persistent hostilities hinder effective politics.
The Green Youth, traditionally representing very left-wing positions within the green political spectrum, is also seen as a leadership academy, having produced leading figures who have later become party chairpersons, such as Ricarda Lang and Felix Banaszak.
Nietzard's actions have not gone unnoticed by party colleagues. Renate Künast, a party colleague, criticized Nietzard for an unsportsmanlike comment about FDP leader Christian Lindner's withdrawal.
Nietzard's comments on social media have also caused trouble and incomprehension within the Green ranks. Notably, she made a controversial comment about men losing their hands due to firecrackers not being able to hit women, which was later deleted after criticism.
In July 2025, Nietzard announced her decision on Instagram, stating that she will remain in office until the federal congress in Leipzig in mid-October. Despite the controversies, Nietzard has not expressed any regrets about her actions or their impact, distancing herself from them as a private individual.
The hope that a new leadership would calm the relationship between the youth organization and the party proved to be deceptive, as Nietzard's tenure as Co-Chair was marked by ongoing internal tensions. As Nietzard steps down, the future direction of the Green Youth and its relationship with the party remains uncertain.
[1] The Local [2] Deutsche Welle [3] The Jerusalem Post [4] Politico
The Commission has also been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the politics within the Green Youth, given the internal hostilities and culture of conformity that have hindered effective politics, as evidenced by the controversial actions and statements of the former Co-Chair, Jette Nietzard.
These developments in the Green Youth, a traditionally very left-wing faction within the green political spectrum, have caused head-scratching among party members and sparked general-news debates both within and outside the party.
