Greens launch offensive: New strategies for East Germany!

Greens launch offensive: New strategies for East Germany!

In recent months, the Greens have lost ground in East Germany, and not too much. They failed massively in the 2023 state elections in Thuringia and Brandenburg, while the AfD was able to further expand its influence. In order to get out of this misery, party leader Felix Banaszak and Heiko Knopf today presented a new strategy called “Honest, controversial, approachable”. This initiative aims to increase the presence of the Greens in the eastern German states, such as Time online reported.

Banaszak opened a new office in Brandenburg an der Havel to replace the local offices that were no longer available. In order to improve relations with members, he is planning discussion groups under the motto “Beer with Banaszak”. A central concern is overcoming prejudices that portray the Greens as a West German academic and elite party. There is a growing belief in the party that it is urgently necessary to act as a pan-German party and to involve the East German members more closely.

Necessary changes

Madeleine Henfling, top candidate in Thuringia, and other members advocate a “radical change of course” in a 23-page position paper. This document is perceived as an “instruction for action” for the Greens in East Germany and calls for regular Eastern congresses and the formation of a “Eastern Task Force”. Overall, the authors see the election results as clear signals of political failure, especially because in the past the Greens have often only focused on urban environments in the West, such as the taz reported.

The challenges are diverse: deindustrialization and a general loss of trust in state institutions are just some of the issues that need to be addressed. In order to counteract this, a support program for East German talent and a minimum number of East German members in federal committees are required, among other things.

A dialogue for trust

What is currently noticeably inhibiting the Greens are violent public attacks on their politics, especially on social policy issues and the asylum issue. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock was confronted with critical questions about Ukraine policy at a readers' forum in Chemnitz, while right-wing extremist demonstrators were stirring up opposition to the Greens outside. Baerbock still received applause, which shows that a dialogue about the concerns and needs on site is needed in order to regain trust, they said daily news.

The upcoming elections in Saxony in autumn 2024 cast their shadows. Party colleagues like Olaf Meister warn that the AfD represents a serious challenge for locally committed Greens. This makes it all the more important for the Greens to find a clear and audible voice for the social concerns of citizens and to look beyond their core concerns, be it in education, the economy or climate policy.

With a clearly defined positionality and a multi-dimensional approach, the Greens may get back on the green path. An innovative concept and stronger representation in East Germany could be the key to reducing the ongoing skepticism that the party is experiencing following its electoral defeats.