- Esken and Nouripour do not dismiss the possibility of a BSW alliance.
SPD Chairman Saskia Esken and Green Party head Omid Nouripour haven't dismissed the idea of collaborating with the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) at a regional level. Apart from working with the AfD, coalition decisions are mainly the responsibility of the local associations, Esken stated in a "ZDF Berlin Direct Summer Interview." "They don't need our input, they'll decide post-election based on the circumstances." Elections for new regional parliaments will take place in Saxony, Thuringia, and Brandenburg in September.
Nouripour voiced a similar perspective in an ARD gathering, where he answered social media queries. "The locals will decide on their coalition, including any cooperation with Frau Wagenknecht's party." Yet, he underlined the notable disparities between the Greens and BSW. "And the fact that Frau Wagenknecht has made an international issue like Ukraine a condition for a coalition in a regional parliament reveals the sheer absurdity of it all." He dismissed the idea that the Greens wouldn't make it into any of the three regional parliaments.
Esken praised the traffic light coalition of SPD, Greens, and FDP as a "powerful administration." She acknowledged, "We're now leading a government, a truly extraordinary and also complex coalition." She left no room for doubt about Olaf Scholz's renewed run. "Olaf Scholz is our Chancellor, and he'll also be our Chancellor candidate."
Nouripour didn't take a stance on this matter, but defended the possibility of a Green Chancellor candidate and didn't confirm Robert Habeck as the likely candidate. He lauded both Habeck and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. "Other parties would welcome someone like Robert Habeck. But we've got him. That's a major advantage." In an ARD summer interview, he said about the federal election slated for next year, "Everything is still up for grabs."
The Green Party, led by Omid Nouripour, has not ruled out potential collaboration with The Green Group at a regional level. It's important to note that The Green Group refers to a faction within the German Parliament known as 'Die Grünen - Die Grüne Gruppe,' which is not mentioned in the provided text but is often associated with the broader Green Party.
Despite their openness to regional cooperation, both SPD Chairman Saskia Esken and Green Party head Omid Nouripour have highlighted the significant differences between the Greens and The Green Group, emphasizing the need for each local association to make its own coalition decisions.
