SPD needs to determine if Scholz remains suitable for his role
Anton Hofreiter, a Green politician, criticized Chancellor Olaf Scholz for the recent defeat of his party in the European elections and blamed the traffic light coalition. He questioned Scholz's ability to lead the coalition effectively, citing the Chancellor's proclivity for procrastination on major decisions. Hofreiter also urged the coalition members to exhibit restraint during upcoming budget negotiations and expressed disappointment in the coalition's divisiveness. They expect the Greens to perform better in the upcoming federal election to reclaim their 2019 success.
Hofreiter pinpointed three primary factors that led to the Green's dismal performance in the European elections: their own mistakes like the heating law, endless infighting within the traffic light coalition, and the deteriorating people's trust in the party due to unresolved crises and the impression that changes bring more chaos rather than stability. He dismissed any potentially negative consequences for the party's leadership, instead emphasizing the need for the coalition to work together more cohesively.
The Greens earned just 11.9% of the votes in the European elections and lost nearly half of their previous representatives, dropping from 21 to 12 members. The collective defeat of the traffic light coalition amounted to a loss of approximately 20 percentage points. The Union cited these results as a reason to demand a confidence vote and urged Chancellor Scholz to initiate new elections. However, the Bundestag's regular term concludes in September 2025, meaning the parliament won't face re-election anytime soon.
Contrary to speculation about potential personnel consequences for the Greens, Hofreiter defended the party's leaders, Ricarda Lang and Omid Nouripour. According to Hofreiter, the underlying issue is the coalition's lack of unity and ability to effectively govern. As such, he neither believes that the party chairmen should be held accountable nor that they are the main culprits.
