Lüddemann: Green icon withdraws and makes room for young female politicians!

Lüddemann: Green icon withdraws and makes room for young female politicians!

Cornelia Lüddemann, the leader of the Green Party in Saxony-Anhalt, has announced her withdrawal from state politics. The decision not to run again in the state elections in September 2026 is intended to create space for young women in the political arena. Lüddemann, who has been a member of the state parliament since 2011 and parliamentary group leader since 2016, has expressed her desire to volunteer in the future and thus take a step towards strengthening women's politics. “It is important to me that younger women are given opportunities,” explains Lüddemann in a report from stern.de.

She originally wanted to run for third place on the state list, but changed her mind after a summer vacation. This decision does not come alone: ​​Sebastian Striegel, the domestic policy spokesman for the Green party in the state parliament, has also announced that he will no longer run for a state parliament mandate. Striegel emphasizes the need for changes in Saxony-Anhalt's politics.

Influence and achievements

Lüddemann is praised for her tireless efforts in areas such as climate and nature conservation, education and social justice. “Their work was crucial for the Greens’ return to parliament and the formation of the Kenya coalition in 2016,” emphasizes Susan Sziborra-Seidlitz, the state chairwoman. She can look back on an impressive record and will fulfill her mandate until the end of the electoral term, but remains a member of the regional association in order to continue her work. The withdrawal comes at a time when the Greens in Saxony-Anhalt are reorganizing their personnel: Sziborra-Seidlitz wants to become the top candidate, other aspirants are Madeleine Linke, Mamad Mohamad and Wolfgang Aldag. Your decision will be made in November.

Women in politics

The challenges that Lüddemann faces are also reflected in the general situation of women in politics in Saxony-Anhalt. In the last local elections, only 25% of the approximately 4,000 applicants were women, a worryingly low proportion. This is attributed, among other things, to the high burden of care work and the existing intra-political structures, which are often male-dominated and deter young women. In order to counteract this, initiatives such as those of the Central Office for Women and Equality Policy are urgently needed to promote and support the participation of women in politics.

The lack of a parity law in Saxony-Anhalt is another point that is being discussed. According to a legal opinion, such a regulation cannot be implemented at the federal level without a constitutional amendment. Political scientists like Hendrikträger express concerns that existing laws do not address the real causes of the low representation of women in political structures. “We have to create an environment in which women feel comfortable and want to get actively involved,” saysträger.

It remains to be seen whether the Greens in Saxony-Anhalt can bring about the necessary changes without Lüddemann and Striegel. In any case, their withdrawal is a sign of generational change and the need to shape a more diverse political landscape.