Palmer suggests reuniting with the Greens benefits everyone.

Tübingen's City Mayor - Palmer suggests reuniting with the Greens benefits everyone.

A year after Boris Palmer's exit from the Greens, there's been a hint of reconciliation between him and the party. Federal Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir is open to the idea of Palmer rejoining under specific conditions. He mentioned this at a Zeit publishing group event in Hamburg, stating, "People should never be discarded - that should be rare."

For Palmer to return, Özdemir noted, "I'd be delighted if he said, 'I'm seeking help, I'm giving up those pointless online feuds and focusing on my job.' He's a fantastic mayor, and he should do that. Then he would have a place there. I'd be pleased if it worked out like that."

Palmer too is open to the idea of coming back to the Greens. In an interview with the German Press Agency, he said, "A situation where I could be a valued member of the Greens again would be beneficial to both sides." He also praised Özdemir, expressing, "I have great respect for Cem Özdemir, and I'm pleased that he's expressed a conciliatory attitude."

Since becoming Tübingen's mayor in 2007, Palmer has had controversial run-ins with political comments. He left the Greens in May 2020 due to a scandal involving the use of the N-word at a migration conference in Frankfurt. His continued membership was already questionable due to other contentious remarks. In the upcoming Baden-Württemberg communal election, Palmer is running for the Free Voters Association (FWV) in the Tübingen constituency for a seat in the Tübingen district council.

Özdemir has spoken highly of Palmer, even referring to his impeccable record as mayor. "I put in a lot of effort to keep him in the party, and I built bridges for him," remarked Özdemir during the event. "Unfortunately, he then tore them down." Özdemir is considered the front-runner for the Greens in the 2026 Southwest state election, as Minister President Winfried Kretschmann will not run for re-election.

Read also:

1. Boris Palmer, once a prominent member of the Greens from Tübingen, is now considering a return to the party following a year-long absence.
2. The suggestion of reconciliation between Palmer and the Greens gained traction at a recent event in Hamburg, where Federal Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir expressed his support for Palmer's return under certain conditions.
3. Cem Özdemir, who praised Palmer's work as Tübingen's mayor, noted that Palmer could regain a place in the party if he were to focus on his duties and abandon his online feuds.
4. Palmer, who is now running for the Free Voters Association (FWV) in the upcoming Baden-Württemberg communal election, expressed his openness to the idea of rejoining the Greens under favorable circumstances.
5. In the 2026 Southwest state election, Cem Özdemir is expected to be the Greens' front-runner for Minister President, as incumbent Winfried Kretschmann will not seek re-election.
6. The city of Stuttgart, located in the Baden-Württemberg region, has also been mentioned in connection to this reconciliation, as it is Palmer's home province and a significant stronghold for the Green Party in Germany.

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