Al-Wazir and Dorn before retreating to the second row
The two leading Green politicians Tarek Al-Wazir and Angela Dorn have said that they do not want to play a leading role in their parliamentary group in the new Hessian state parliament. The Deputy Prime Minister and Economics Minister and the Science Minister told Hessischer Rundfunk that although they would switch from the government to the opposition bench and remain MPs, they would not take on a leading role in either the state parliamentary group or the state party.
"I am an elected member of parliament, I will accept and fulfill my mandate in the state parliament and help my party with advice and support in this task, but after almost 24 years I will no longer be in the front row," Al-Wazir told hr on Thursday. Dorn expressed a similar view: "A new formation of the parliamentary group and party after the state elections requires both experienced and new heads. I am taking on the responsibility of making room for this change in the front row and for new ideas."
The leaders of the CDU and SPD in Hesse are currently sounding out the basis for their planned joint state government in coalition negotiations. If the planned government is formed, the Greens will lose their current four cabinet seats. The CDU clearly won the state elections on October 8 and was able to choose a partner for the future government. Following the exploratory talks, which lasted around five weeks, Minister President Boris Rhein (CDU) rejected the Greens after almost ten years of black-green government.
Despite their decision to step back from leading roles in the Green parliamentary group and party, Tarek Al-Wazir and Angela Dorn will continue to serve as MPs in the Hessian state parliament. The Parliamentary Parties, including the Greens, are currently engaged in discussions to form a new coalition government in Hesse.
Source: www.dpa.com
