Green defector Sekmen wants to keep her seat in the Bundestag
Melis Sekmen feels constrained by the Greens. The 30-year-old federal parliamentarian is leaving the party and faction. However, she intends to keep her Bundestags mandate, despite leaving the Greens and the Green-Faction. "I was elected as a federal parliamentarian for the Bundestag in 2021 for a term of four years. I feel obligated to this mandate," Sekmen told "Mannheimer Morgen" in response to demands from the Green Circle Mannheim for her to resign. She will continue to work for the people there. "I am still very motivated to make politics for the people in our city," she emphasized.
Sekmen was not elected as a direct candidate but was elected to the Bundestag via the Baden-Württemberg Green state list. On Monday, the 30-year-old announced her departure from the Greens and the Green-Bundestag Faction. She intends to switch to the CDU and attended the CDU/CSU Bundestag Faction meeting as a guest on Tuesday.
Sekmen claims that she was restricted in her creative space within the Greens. "Politicians need a creative space to be able to do good," she says in the newspaper interview. "This should not be restricted in any party if one's positions do not fit into the overall political picture."
Sekmen left open whether she will run for the Bundestag election in 2025 for the CDU in Mannheim. "The decision on the candidate or candidate for the Bundestag election is made by the members of the Mannheimer CDU," says the 30-year-old. "There is no deal." Sekman has submitted an application to the CDU. The CDU district association will decide on this on Tuesday.
Sekmen expressed her dissatisfaction with the creative limitations within the Green Party, citing the need for politicians to have a space to effectively contribute to politics. Subsequently, she announced her shift to the CDU, attending their Bundestag Faction meeting as a guest.
