Bundestag - Ex-Greens MP Sekmen enthusiastically welcomed by the Union
Union applause and Green frustration: Melis Sekmen, the Bundestag representative who left the Greens a day ago, was warmly welcomed by the Union faction with prolonged applause. Union Faction Leader Friedrich Merz reportedly greeted the 30-year-old Mannheimer with the words, "Welcome. It's good that you've made this decision." The Union faction is looking forward to getting to know her.
Since the CDU's admission process still requires time, Sekmen participated as a guest in the discussions. She was quoted as saying, "A new chapter begins for me today."
Merz: Sekmen only bound by her conscience
Sekmen was elected to the Bundestag via the state list. The Greens' demands for her to resign were rejected by Merz. "She is a freely elected representative and is truly only bound by her conscience," Merz stated. Sekmen followed this by going to the place where she could realize her political ideas. The former Green Party representative expressed deep disappointment with her former party and faction.
The Union faction leadership plans to place Sekmen in a committee where she can contribute her experiences and skills, Merz added. She has already been actively engaged in the field of start-up companies. Sekmen has been a member of the Bundestag since 2021 and was previously the chairwoman of the Economic Committee in the parliament. Since 2022, she has been the chairwoman of the parliamentary group "Founding & Start-ups."
Respect for Immigration History
Merz stated before the faction meeting that Sekmen's switch had been intensely discussed in the past few weeks. There had also been a personal and pleasant conversation. "I have great respect for this step," Merz added. The faction will welcome its new colleague with respect, not only for her political achievements but also for her personal history as an immigrant from Turkey. "She will be an enrichment for our Bundestag faction," Merz said.
Last switch: A Green Party representative joined the Union in 1996
The departure of representatives from the faction is a rare occurrence. The Union faction was able to record an access from another faction as recently as the end of 1996. At that time, the former East German civil rights activist Vera Lengsfeld also switched from the Greens to the Union. At the end of the previous year, Lengsfeld, who sat in the Bundestag from 1990 to 2005, left the CDU. After the departure of CSU representatives Andreas Scheuer and Stefan Müller in April and May, the CDU/CSU faction had 195 members.
Sekmen requests admission to CDU in her hometown Mannheim
The CDU-District Association in Sekmen's hometown Mannheim confirmed the receipt of the application for membership of the representatives. A decision on this matter will be made during the upcoming executive board meeting on coming Tuesday evening, said the District Chairman Christian Hötting. This is just a formal matter.
Green District Association demands mandate resignation
The Green District Association Mannheim referred to Sekmen's entry into the Bundestag via the Green state list. "Therefore, we demand that Melis Sekmen resigns from their Bundestag mandate, so that another person from the elected Green list can represent us in the Bundestag instead," it said in a statement. Green Co-Faction Leader in the Bundestag Britta Haßelmann said in Berlin: "You can't stop a traveler."
Kretschmann surprised by Sekmen's position changes
Baden-Württemberg Minister President Winfried Kretschmann (Greens) said in Stuttgart regarding Sekmen's comments on a Schubladendenken: "I was a bit surprised by the justification." This is not a reason to leave the Greens, said Kretschmann. He himself expressed similar views. "If you hold this opinion, then you look and see if you can convince others," said the Minister President.
CSU: Learning from mistakes is indeed something positive
CSU State Group Leader Alexander Dobrindt said about Sekmen: "Learning from mistakes is indeed something positive." It is a wise recognition of the former Green MPs that one cannot "decorate" the international economic situation with the Greens.
- Friedrich Merz, the leader of the Union parliamentary group, praised Sekmen's decision to join the Union, expressing respect for her political achievements and personal history as an immigrant from Turkey.
- Since 2022, Sekmen has served as the chairwoman of the Bundestag's parliamentary group "Founding & Start-ups," following her tenure as the chairwoman of the Economic Committee in the parliament.
- The CDU in Sekmen's hometown Mannheim has received her application for membership and will make a decision during their upcoming executive board meeting.
- The Green District Association in Mannheim demanded that Sekmen resign from her Bundestag mandate, allowing another person from the Green list to represent them in the Bundestag.
- The departure of a representative from the Union faction is a rare occurrence, with the last switch happening in 1996 when Vera Lengsfeld, a former Green Party representative, joined the Union.
