Greens receive a warning from Özdemir about left-wing elements within their ranks, with a call for self-reliance advocated.
In an interview with the "Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland", Cem Özdemir, the Green Party's top candidate for the 2026 state election in Baden-Württemberg, has warned his party against a shift to the left. Özdemir, a prominent figure in the Green Party, emphasized the importance of staying true to the party's core competencies and maintaining an independent course.
According to Özdemir, the Green Party should focus on its original task for the coming years: prices should tell the ecological truth and provide a strong incentive to invest in CO2-neutral technologies and solutions. He believes that concentrating on this core competency of ecological responsibility is crucial, rather than engaging in classical left-wing redistribution debates.
Özdemir criticized the potential shift of the Green Party towards becoming a "better SPD or Left Party". He warned that such a move could erode the party’s support, potentially shrinking it to as low as five percent and leaving it dominated by radicals.
Regarding the 2026 Baden-Württemberg state election, Özdemir stressed that the Greens must focus on their ecological strengths rather than chasing left-wing policies that may alienate voters. He sees this strategic focus on environmental topics and innovation as key to electoral success, rather than broader social policy debates, which he views as outside the party’s main strengths.
In the interview, Özdemir also expressed opposition to debates on redistribution. He believes that making the market an ally of climate protection, not an enemy, is the way forward.
Cem Özdemir, in his role as the Green Party's top candidate, sees his party as "the only bourgeois opposition party". He did not mention any negative examples of parties similar to the CDU, SPD, or the Left Party in the interview.
The interview with the "Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland" was published in the Friday editions, providing a timely insight into Özdemir's views and strategies for the upcoming election.
The Green Party, under Cem Özdemir, should prioritize its ecological work, focusing on pricing that reflects ecological truth and promoting CO2-neutral technologies, as stated in the interview with Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland. He advocates for avoiding engagement in traditional left-wing redistribution debates, fearing a potential shift towards adopting such policies could alienate voters.
Furthermore, Özdemir's stance on politics and policy-and-legislation suggests a shift away from traditional leftist parties, emphasizing the need for the Greens to maintain an independent course and capitalize on their ecological strengths in the 2026 Baden-Württemberg state election, rather than following the paths of parties like the CDU, SPD, or the Left Party.
