Greens focus on climate protection: Cem Özdemir in the spotlight before state elections

Greens focus on climate protection: Cem Özdemir in the spotlight before state elections

At the current Green Party conference in Hanover, the political agenda for the upcoming state elections in March 2026 was put on the table. Franziska Brantner, the Green chairwoman from Heidelberg, provocatively asked the question about the hopes of Friedrich Merz (CDU) becoming chancellor and underlined the Greens' clear demarcation from the federal government under Merz. The party's core issues, such as climate protection and the energy transition, play a mobilizing role and are also very popular in the current political climate lawsuit.

Cem Özdemir was presented as the top candidate for the state elections and aims to succeed the previous Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann. Özdemir would like to position the Greens as a progressive party with an affinity for technology and in his speech he also addressed the citizens' sense of security. He spoke out strongly against discounts for criminals, which was met with approval by the delegates.

Climate policy and social issues

The leading Greens in Baden-Württemberg emphasize the close connection between climate protection and economic policy. Despite the fundamental challenges, surveys show that only 12% of respondents consider climate change to be the most pressing issue. The discussion about the planned ban on internal combustion engines from 2035 divides opinions: While the Green-led state government is aiming to weaken the ban on combustion engines, many delegates firmly reject this. Özdemir has also called for the ban on combustion engines to be relaxed and is calling for clear measures to promote electromobility, in particular the expansion of the charging infrastructure.

Brantner also criticized the subsidization of flying and campaigned for relief for the population, including cheaper train journeys and a reduction in electricity taxes. These social aspects should be brought into greater focus in order to convince voters of the green concepts.

Review and outlook

Past polls show that the Greens were around 27 percent in past elections, while currently two thirds of the population are satisfied with the work of the Green-led state government. This positive feedback strengthens confidence in the Greens' environmental policy objectives and gives hope for a successful campaign. The party leadership is optimistic and is relying on the proven course of ecological responsibility, social cohesion and an open society in order to consolidate and expand its voter base.

The political climate is exciting and characterized by dynamic debates, which makes the upcoming elections all the more interesting. Whether this will benefit the Green Party in the long term remains to be seen.

For further information about the Greens in Baden-Württemberg and their successes, it is worth taking a look at the [Greens BW](https://www.gruene-bw.de/wir-gruene-sind- Successful-baden-wuerttemberg-partei/).