Change of political group - Faction changer Sekmen wants to keep her seat in the Bundestag
The Green Party politician Melis Sekmen, who has resigned from the Green faction in the German Bundestag, intends to keep her mandate. "I was elected as a Bundestag representative for four years in 2021. I feel obligated to this mandate," Sekmen told the "Mannheimer Morgen" newspaper in response to demands from the Green district association Mannheim for her to resign. She will continue to fight for the people there. "I am still very motivated to make politics for the people in our city," she emphasized.
Sekmen was elected to the Bundestag via the Baden-Württemberg Green state list. The 30-year-old announced her resignation from the Greens and from the Green-Bundestag faction on Monday. She intends to join the CDU and attended the CDU/CSU Bundestag faction meeting as a guest on Tuesday.
Sekmen seemed to feel restricted in her creative space within the Greens, as she made clear in the newspaper interview. "Politicians need a creative space to be able to do good. This should not be restricted in any party if one does not fit into the overall political picture with their positions," she said.
Will she run for the CDU in 2025?
Sekmen left open whether she will run for the CDU in Mannheim for the Bundestag election in 2025. "The decision on the candidate or candidate for the Bundestag election is made by the members of the Mannheimer CDU," she emphasized. "There is no deal," Sekmen made clear. She had initially submitted an application to the CDU. The CDU district association was to decide on this on Tuesday.
Sekmen's decision to leave the Green-Bundestag faction and join the CDU has caused a stir in German politics, especially in Baden-Württemberg where she was elected. Critics within her former party have questioned her loyalty, while supporters of the CDU see this as a potential boost to their party in Mannheim and Baden-Württemberg in the upcoming elections.
Regardless of the political reactions, Sekmen remains focused on her Bundestag mandate, which she plans to fulfill to the best of her abilities, advocating for her constituents in Mannheim despite her party change. Her transition to the CDU could potentially lead to a change of political group in the Bundestag, as she may be offered a place in the CDU/CSU faction instead.
Sekmen's resignation from the Greens and her intention to join the CDU has sparked discussions among her former party members in Berlin. Some see her change of heart as a betrayal, while others applaud her courage to stand by her beliefs and follow her convictions. Regardless of the opinions, Sekmen is determined to make a positive impact in German politics, moving forward with her new party affiliation.
