“The most painful day - I didn't want anything more”: Habeck deeply disappointed after Baerbock's decision

Robert Habeck would be predestined as the Greens' candidate for chancellor.

This scenario will not become reality.

The “failed” explains his emotional state and what he is up to now.

Berlin - Robert Habeck is largely responsible for the upswing of the Greens.

When he took over the party leadership together with Annalena Baerbock in 2018, the polls were far below those of today, where the Union is now also outperformed and therefore it is apparently, at least currently, Germany's most popular party.

In the federal election in 2021, however, he will not run as candidate for chancellor, but his parliamentary colleague with equal rights.

In an interview with

Die

Zeit

, Habeck explains what the decision to his disadvantage means for him and how he envisions his future role with the Greens.

"Bittersweet" was the day when party member Baerbock was chosen as candidate for chancellor.

The 51-year-old explains: “I went to Berlin to get the party in the position to fight for the chancellorship.

Now we can do it, that's the sweet part, ”said Habeck.

Habeck and the Greens: Achieve a “political victory” despite “personal defeat”

It is “bitter”, however, that he is not leading the fight for the most important office from the top: “I wanted nothing more than to serve this republic as Chancellor.

And I will not do that after this election campaign. "He now wants to focus his energies on the tasks ahead with regard to the federal election:" Represent the decision externally and turn it into a political victory, although it is a personal defeat for me. "

After all, it is about addressing important issues in Germany apart from the corona pandemic.

The Greens would have the opportunity “to win the Chancellery or at least become very, very strong with a closed, intelligent election campaign.

And that is greater than what you personally trust or want, ”believes Habeck.

According to Habeck, recent developments in German politics have shown how urgent the decision-making process was within the party: "The dispute between the CDU and CSU, the resignation of Andrea Nahles, the debate on the Climate Protection Act in autumn 2019." These aspects prompted the Greens to clarify on the question of the chancellor, said the native Lübeck. Survey results at the end of 2020 would have made the last difference. The decision in favor of Annalena Baerbock had already been made before Easter, so Habeck had some time to let the result sag. Nonetheless, Habeck explains that it was "the most painful day of my political career".

That the parliamentary group colleagues decided in favor of Baerbock is not surprising: Even when the party leadership was re-elected, it became clear that the current candidate for chancellor enjoys even more support from the Greens.

The Greens: Habeck as number two?

It's about "political passion" and "capacities"

The federal chairman of the party also commented on whether the gender issue played a role in the question of the candidate for chancellor: "The fact that Annalena is a woman in an otherwise male election campaign was a central criterion," explains Habeck and does not rule out the possibility of it being different had come, one of the people's parties would have appointed a female candidate for chancellor.

With regard to another aspect, party colleague Cem Özdemir broke the collar during a TV talk.

And how does Robert Habeck see his new role as supposed "number two" in the party? “It's a moment that reformats things. How this will be done is not yet entirely clear. I want to be fully involved in the election campaign. Perhaps, if the vaccinations go ahead, it will be possible to get 4,000 people into the marketplace, as last summer, and spark political passion. ”A great deal of attention should therefore be paid to the factor of public appearances:“ Not performing would not be in Annalena's sense. ”

However, he wants to take a back seat to Bündnis 90 / Die Grünen and “call up capacities”, as Habeck

explains in

Die

Zeit

: “I firmly expect that we will get into the government. I have conducted and successfully concluded coalition negotiations several times, so I know how to do it. I was in the government, I can further develop the green program for government suitability and check it out. Public attention will concentrate more on Annalena. ”Baerbock was recently exposed to a bizarre TV interview - which ProSieben received ridicule.

(PF)