Green Youth's controversy-surrounded joint leader abstains from pursuing fresh leadership prospective - Leader of Green Youth movement publicly disavows future leadership run
Controversial Leadership and Internal Strife in Germany's Green Youth
The Green Youth, a prominent breeding ground for future leaders within the Green Party, has been embroiled in a series of controversies since last year. At the heart of these controversies is Jette Nietzard, the co-leader of the Green Youth, who has been a source of division and debate within the organisation.
In May 2025, Nietzard made headlines when she wore a sweater emblazoned with the slogan "ACAB" (All Cops Are Bastards) in the Bundestag. This provocative act drew strong criticism from figures such as Baden-Württemberg’s Green Premier Winfried Kretschmann, who publicly urged her to resign from The Greens party.
The controversies continued in June 2025, when Nietzard posted an Instagram video referencing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Her statement, which suggested that over 50,000 Palestinians and 1,200 Israelis had died as a result of military actions since October 7, 2023, was widely criticized as minimizing Hamas terrorist attacks. Nietzard issued an open and sincere apology, especially to Jewish communities in Germany and worldwide.
Late in July 2025, Nietzard publicly entertained the idea of armed resistance against a possible AfD government elected in 2029. She questioned whether civil society and parties were ready to resist with force if a far-right government came to power and justified the idea of resistance "against fascism," even if it meant opposing the will of the voters.
Following these statements, Nietzard described herself as a victim of a right-wing media campaign, criticizing how her left-wing positions were received within The Greens, often facing hostility including booing and demands for her resignation from senior party members and aspiring prime ministers.
Due to escalating internal tensions and disagreements about the party’s direction, Nietzard announced her resignation from Green Youth leadership on July 29, 2025.
Nietzard's radical left-wing feminist views and provocative statements have sparked intense debate about the boundaries of acceptable rhetoric and resistance within German democracy. Her resignation marked the end of a tumultuous tenure amid internal disputes and controversies.
It is worth noting that the previous board of the Green Youth resigned, citing estrangement from the Greens and a lack of support for a class-oriented politics that focuses on social issues. Former Green Party chair Ricarda Lang and her successor, Felix Banaszak, were leaders of the Green Youth before their departure.
Banaszak is now the current leader of the Green Party and the top candidate for the upcoming state election in Baden-Württemberg. Despite the hope that a new leadership could calm relations between the youth organization and the party, doubts persist. Nietzard's social media post on New Year's Eve, suggesting that men who lose their hands due to fireworks can no longer hit women, was deleted after criticism.
The controversies surrounding Nietzard and the Green Youth serve as a reminder of the challenges faced by political organisations in maintaining unity and adhering to democratic principles, even in the face of strong opposition and internal strife.
- The ongoing internal strife in the Green Youth, as exemplified by the departure of Jette Nietzard, has attracted attention at the policy-and-legislation level, with the Commission communication on the future of the European Union considering the impact of such internal disagreements on the broader politics of the EU.
- High-profile incidents like Jette Nietzard's controversial statements have generated general-news coverage not only domestically but also within European politics, igniting debates about the boundaries of acceptable rhetoric and resistance within democratic societies.
