Debate among the Greens: tanks instead of pacifism

No other Green politician calls for more arms to be delivered to Ukraine as vehemently as Anton Hofreiter. In the spring, the Upper Bavarian was still pretty much alone in his party. Now almost everyone is for it. How did he do it?

It’s been like this for months now. Anton Hofreiter demands that the federal government must deliver more weapons to Ukraine. Much more needs to happen. Significantly more means for the Green politician: Leopard battle tanks. The chancellor rejects that – after all, other countries wouldn’t do it either. Hofreiter was one of the first to call for tough sanctions after the Russian invasion of Ukraine: an oil and gas embargo, for example. The Greens cabinet members Robert Habeck and Annalena Baerbock were much more reserved.

From party leftist to tank expert

Hofreiter holds a doctorate in biology. The Upper Bavarian from Sauerlach is familiar with traffic and environmental issues. At the beginning of April, he amazed ZDF as a tank expert and reeled off Polish vehicle types. He dug himself very deep there, explains Hofreiter. He describes himself as a “nerd”. He is enthusiastic about the details.

There is ridicule for this from the opposition. CSU boss Markus Söder does not consider the change in the green to be credible. At the CDU party conference last weekend, he scoffed: “I only believe that Anton Hofreiter is for the Bundeswehr when he finally gets a decent military haircut.”

Didn’t get anything from the posts

Many of the Greens still roll their eyes in the spring when you ask them about court riders. Or change the subject. Green Party leader Ricarda Lang distanced herself publicly when Hofreiter accused the Chancellor of a lack of determination. The left-wing party was leader of the Greens for eight years, but he went away empty-handed when it came to the posts for the traffic light cabinet. In the coalition negotiations, Hofreiter led the mobility working group for the Greens – obviously not to the satisfaction of the party leadership. Because in the traffic light cabinet he plays no role. It offends him. He goes to the diving station for weeks. Hofreiter declines interview requests.

Hurt vanity or honest interest?

What remains is the chairmanship of the Europe Committee in the Bundestag. In the long term, this could be a springboard, after all, the Greens secured the right to nominate the next German EU commissioner in the coalition negotiations. For now, though, it’s a job with limited political power. However, with his demands for heavy weapons for Ukraine, Hofreiter made the headlines again. The assumption is that the Upper Bavarian is also so loudly committed to arms deliveries in order to process this defeat. In confidential talks, colleagues in the parliamentary group assure us that it’s not about offended vanity. Toni is serious, he cares about the fate of Ukraine.

Encouragement from the FDP, mockery from the chancellor

Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann takes a similar view. The FDP politician heads the defense committee in the Bundestag. She meets Hofreiter for the first time on a train journey to the Ukraine. As BR24 reports, she had the feeling from the start that Hofreiter was touched by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It was very important to him to articulate his opinion – knowing full well that this was not a matter of course for the Greens at the time.

The trip to Ukraine in mid-April is intended to underscore Germany’s solidarity – and put pressure on Chancellor Olaf Scholz. He should show more leadership. Scholz reacts, speaking pejoratively of “boys and girls” who demanded something like that – and probably also means Hofreiter.

“Inimitable Bavarian style”

But something is actually happening. Germany is supplying modern howitzers and anti-aircraft tanks, among other things, in the summer; trains Ukrainian soldiers. The army has been able to push back Russian troops in the east of the country at record speed in the past few days. That is also thanks to Hofreiter, says SPD foreign policy expert Michael Roth.

The chairman of the foreign affairs committee in the Bundestag was in the Ukraine together with Hofreiter and Strack-Zimmermann. He says that politics is also about getting on other people’s nerves: “Toni Hofreiter, with his inimitable Bavarian manner, has also made a contribution to the fact that Germany is now one of the leading countries when it comes to military support to Ukraine goes.”

From outsider to opinion maker

Something similar can be heard from the Greens. Jamila Schäfer, member of the Bundestag, was in Ukraine herself and shares Hofreiter’s position on supplying heavy weapons to Ukraine. The chairwoman of the Greens state group is observing a development in her party. At first, Hofreiter was offended by his position, says Schäfer BR24: “But you can tell that he was right in the end.” Finally, the current gains in territory showed that the Ukrainian army can push back the Russian army with modern western weapons.

The Greens are now where Hofreiter was in the spring. The Upper Bavarian seems very happy about it these days.