Franziska Brantner and Felix Banaszak are the new leaders of Germany's Green Party. At the Federalist Congress in Wiesbaden, Brantner was elected with 78.15% of the vote, while Banaszak was elected with 92.88%. The results were significantly better. Both were elected to two-year terms.
Franziska Brantner and Felix Banaszak become leaders of the new Green Party.Image: trapezoid
Brantner's opponent is from Bayreuth, with 14.44% of the vote. 4.2% voted against and 3.21% abstained. Banazac had four opposing candidates, but they only received 3.72% of the vote.
Realo politician from Baden-Württemberg, left-wing Ruhr area figure
Brantner, 45, has been a member of the Bundestag since 2013, after several years as a member of the European Parliament. Originally from Baden-Württemberg, she studied in Paris and New York and holds a PhD in social sciences from the University of Mannheim. She belongs to the Realo wing of the Green Party.
Banazak is 35 years old, from Duisburg, and calls himself a “child of the Ruhr area.” His resume includes serving as director of Green Youth. From 2018 to 2022, he served as state chairman of the Green Party in North Rhine-Westphalia, helping to negotiate the coalition agreement between the black and green state governments. He has been a member of the Bundestag since 2021, serving as a member of the Economic and Budget Committees. He studied sociocultural anthropology and political science in Berlin and belonged to the left wing of the party.
In a very emotional application speech, Banazak said the Greens should be “a force of confidence”. At the same time, he emphasized that controversial debates are not a bad thing. In his view, a political party that cannot discuss the situation internally or argue is a “die party.” He was always able to score delegates in a humorous way, such as when he said of his hometown: “You have to want Duisburg.”
Brantner: “Stop Dinosaur Thinking”
In his application speech, Brantner said Germany needed more investment. And: “Tightening your belt won't help if your pants are already gone.” She defended the German team's qualification and announced that she would fight for the continued promotion of climate-friendly heating systems such as heat pumps.
Brantner opposed political competition. She warned of “another crisis of stagnation” in light of the upcoming federal election. CDU leader Friedrich Merz cast women in an outdated light in a well-received speech and demanded: “Stop this dinosaur thinking!” BSW boss Sahra Wagenknecht called her ” Pseudo-socialist high-income earners” and the Green Party should not be accused of being the party of high-income earners.
Brantner temporarily serves as secretary of state
Brandtner will retain Robert Harbeck's position as Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs until further notice. Brandtner told the dpa news agency that the government had decided not to fill any parliamentary state secretary positions due to early federal elections. “Robert Habeck has therefore asked me to remain in office until the end of the legislative period so that business can continue normally. I will take on this responsibility in the remaining weeks.” The federal election is scheduled for February 23.
New elections for the entire six-person Greens board became necessary after the previous leadership body called it quits after losing three state elections in September.
Just a slight protest
Saturday's party congress was also accompanied by two small protest rallies, attended by only a few dozen people in total. Supporters of asylum seekers have accused the Greens of changing their stance on refugee policy.
Another group carrying Palestinian flags held a banner in front of the party meeting venue that read “Ceasefire now!” Police deployed a heavy presence at the scene and said they were not concerned about the demonstrations. (Sudanese Development Authority/Department of Political Affairs)
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