The Greens want to delay the chancellor candidate question as long as possible. At least in Berlin. In Stuttgart, the party sees the apparently different.
Because Baden-Württemberg's Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann has repeatedly commented on the subject - and brought a new name into the game.
In an interview with the "Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland" (RND) Green Prime Minister said when asked whether the Greens are able to chancellor: "Of course we have chancellor-competent personalities, what should be worse for Robert Habeck, Annalena Baerbock and Cem Özdemir than for the candidates who else are traded? " He could not recognize that.
This is surprising for two reasons.
- First, Kretschmann had previously spoken out for Robert Habeck as Chancellor candidate. A few weeks ago, at an event with Harald Schmidt, when asked who he wanted as a chancellor candidate, he had answered "Habeck". At an event in Berlin, he said the "world" a few days ago that this is still his favorite. But now he has unexpectedly brought the former party leader and Transport Committee Chairman Cem Özdemir into the game.
- Second, it is actually agreed that the party leaders Annalena Baerbock and Robert Habeck will make up the chancellor question among themselves. In addition, most Greens so far do not want to comment on this at all. Too great is the fear that the poll results of the party before the next federal election decline again and the K-question done by itself.
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Özdemir currently plays a minor role in the Greens. In September he had applied for the post of group leader and lost the election.
But Kretschmann called Özdemir not only as "chancellor". He also warned his party against losing politicians like him. "We have to be careful that such talents do not hang between tree and bark and eventually do something else," he said. He is thinking of Friedrich Merz.
Kretschmann was talking to others, "that we have the Cem Özdemir on the radar," he said. It was difficult because the group did not elect him. "But I can see that already." He does not lose sight of Özdemir.
Özdemir had always been in talks as Kretschmann successor. In the state election in 2021 Kretschmann but wants to compete again as a top candidate of the Baden-Württemberg Greens.