Alliance 90/The Greens celebrate 30 years as a state party
After a difficult start and a long dry spell, the Alliance Greens in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern now see themselves as an important constant and indispensable political force in the north-east. "Over the last 30 years, we have put environmental protection and nature conservation on the political agenda, fought for renewable energies and sustainable agriculture with perseverance and tenacity," said state party leader Ole Krüger in Schwerin on Saturday. The occasion was the 30th anniversary of the state party, which the Greens wanted to celebrate with a festive reception in the evening.
The number of members in the state has risen from barely 300 at the time to more than 1250 today. Many are involved in their home towns, hold seats in district councils, town councils and city councils. The Greens are represented in the state parliament with five members. Krüger was certain that his party had helped shape Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, even though the Greens had only entered the state parliament in Schwerin for the second time in the fall of 2021 and had not yet been involved in any government.
Even though the party initially only won over a few voters and was not able to establish itself permanently in the state parliament, it has always followed its values and does not base its political agenda on poll results, Krüger emphasized. After gaining 6.3 percent in the state elections, the North-East Greens have remained stable between 6 and 8 percent in recent polls. This is well below the figures for the national party (13 to 16 percent).
The Greens contested the first state election in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern separately in 1990, but failed to reach the five percent threshold, as did Bündnis 90 and Neues Forum. This made Mecklenburg-Vorpommern the only East German federal state in which neither representatives of the civil rights movement nor the Greens were represented in the state parliament when it was founded. In June 1993, a few weeks after the federal party was founded, 45 out of 60 delegates voted in favor of the merger to form Bündnis 90/Die Grünen. However, it was not until 2011 that the party managed to enter the state parliament for the first time, which they had to leave again for five years in 2016.
Co-state chair Katharina Horn is convinced that the Greens will continue to be the force "that tirelessly fights for sustainable, fair and future-oriented policies" for the next 30 years. However, the challenges are greater than ever. The climate crisis needs to be tackled, social inequality eliminated and digitalization advanced. The pace in all these areas is too slow. "Together with the people of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, we must overcome the standstill," warned Horn. "Courage, confidence and a sense of justice are the virtues that our country has needed in every crisis and needs again now," said Krüger.
The celebration of the Green Party's 30th anniversary as a state party in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern also highlighted their significant role in local politics, with many members holding seats in district councils and town councils. Despite a challenging start and not initially reaching the required vote threshold, the Greens have consistently adhered to their values and environmental agenda, earning between 6 and 8% in recent polls.
In light of the ongoing climate crisis, social inequality, and the need for digital advancement, the state Green Party leaders, Ole Krüger and Katharina Horn, expressed confidence that the Greens will continue to be a driving force for sustainable, fair, and future-oriented policies in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. They urged unity and determination to overcome these challenges, drawing on historical virtues of courage, confidence, and justice.
Source: www.dpa.com
