All of a sudden, the Greens catch sight of more land.
With weak polls and constant attacks, the Greens have been in a crisis for more than a year, but now, in the week leading up to the European elections, their confidence is fading. The party is focusing on just crossing itself.
In a world divided by mere kilometers, at the end of November, representatives from the far-right, ultra-conservatives, and the Alternative for Germany (AfD) gathered at the Potsdam Adlon Hotel in Germany to discuss the expulsion of as many people with refugee backgrounds as possible. Seven months later, the Greens hold a state conference in Potsdam's Schinkel Hall for European elections, acting as the first force against a right-wing shift on the continent.
"Democrats before fascists! Greens before blue," chants Emily Buning, the party manager for the Greens, at the beginning of the event. As the election campaign continues, the Greens find strength and momentum, remaining in second place behind the Union, as they were five years ago. This is significant considering the party's recent past. Just a few years ago, the Greens achieved a record result of 20.5% in the federal elections, narrowly behind the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Christian Social Union (CSU).
Remarkably, the Greens are now focusing on democracy protection rather than climate protection. Anne-Katrin Haubold, a Greens representative, witnessed violence towards party supporters in Dresden and urges her fellow party members to reach out to those in the rural areas. "We can't just make programs for our core clientele in the well-situated green zones in the cities," Haubold says.
A recent setback for the Greens occurred in the local elections in Thuringia, where the party's support was halved compared to the previous local elections. However, this may be improved, as their candidate Kathleen Lützkendorf is headed for the second round of the mayor's race in Jena, a left-liberal city surrounded by a deep blue AfD area.
In urban areas, the Greens have found a mobilization theme due to the rise of the far-right in the European election campaign, as both the Social Democrats and the Left also try to position themselves against a right-wing shift. However, these two parties risk disappointing results, while the Greens could achieve a result close to the 14.7% of the Bundestag election in 2021, potentially making them the first force behind the Union.
The Union's questioning of the Green Deal of the CDU candidate and current Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, as well as their challenges to the combustion engine ban in 2035, have given the Green narrative a boost. Von der Leyen may be trying to court the Greens by allowing for joint actions, but the Greens insist on pushing forward with the decarbonization of Europe's economy. "We as Greens stand against this right-wing shift with everything we have," proclaims Terry Reintke, a European candidate for the Greens, to the attendees in Potsdam.
Although the Greens may not hold much political power in Europe, they could still have a pivotal role after the election. If the German Greens remain the strongest group within their faction, they could help shape the nation's direction. However, their negligible presence in rural areas will have minimal effect on the nationwide result, and they are still far from reaching the 20% benchmark they set for the 2021 race for chancellorship. Yet, they remain resilient in the challenging political landscape of 2023.
In the middle of the European election race, the spotlight has shifted towards the following year. It's uncertain whether Robert Habeck will be running alongside Baerbock in the campaign or if the political party will put forward the current Federal Minister for Economics and Climate Protection for the chancellorship this time. Several hints point in this direction. One reason behind Habeck's increased number of appearances in recent elections could be his better schedule compared to Baerbock. The Vice-Chancellor has not surrendered her dream of becoming a chancellor.
Since Baerbock's bid for chancellorship didn't work out, at least partly due to the numerous mishaps in the election campaign, the Greens have been avoiding mistakes with their party chairs Ricarda Lang and Omid Nouripour. They are countering the fierce criticisms, particularly from the Union ranks, with a confident posture. "We shouldn't harden," Lang declared during the party meeting. The Green party's hand of camaraderie reaches out, and they're keeping their ears open for negotiations.
At her hometown in Potsdam, Baerbock urges supporters: "The glass is half full." The far-right's goal is to create so much fear that the focus on unity is lost. Despite the recent turmoil, the majority of the population continues to support the Basic Law, democracy, and the rule of law.
Before her run for chancellor, the Foreign Minister once coined the phrase "radically state-supporting" for her party. Today, the Greens cannot be seen without state support. Is one carrying the other?
Regardless of the outcome of the European elections, the Green party is in for a challenging time ahead. However, they are not looking at a total collapse like the FDP. The rising popularity among the population is like a flood: It's frightening for the Greens, but it works in their favor.
Read also:
- Omid Nouripour, a prominent figure in the Greens, is working to counter fierce criticisms from the Union ranks with a confident posture.
- In the European elections, the Greens, including Annalena Baerbock and Robert Habeck, aim to remain in second place behind the Union, as they did five years ago.
- The Greens, led by Annalena Baerbock, are focusing on democracy protection instead of climate protection due to the rise of right-wing extremism in Europe.
- Alliance 90/The Greens, under the leadership of Ricarda Lang and Omid Nouripour, are avoiding mistakes made in Baerbock's chancellorship bid and standing firm against Union attacks.
- The far-right and ultra-conservatives gathered at the Potsdam Adlon Hotel to discuss expelling as many people with refugee backgrounds as possible, while the Greens held a state conference in Potsdam's Schinkel Hall to promote a pro-democracy message.
- Despite facing challenges, such as the halving of support in local elections and lack of presence in rural areas, the Greens, influenced by Ursula von der Leyen's actions as CDU candidate and current Commission President, remain resilient in their fight against right-wing extremism in Europe.
