Federal party conference of the Greens: In the conflict zone

Coal-fired power plants back on the grid, nuclear power plants in reserve operation, weapons in war zones: the green base had to go through many U-turns. The party congress could now be more confrontational than usual.

Like Robert Habeck, it can be summed up in dictums: “Compromises are the art of politics,” he called out to the delegates at the last party conference in January, when he was still the outgoing party leader. He may have foreseen some painful decisions – but so many?

A few months later, there have been a number of compromises that are hardly compatible with the green DNA: coal-fired power plants are going back online, nuclear power plants are possibly going into reserve operation, LNG terminals are being expanded and weapons are also being delivered to war zones.

The federal leadership wants to get the approval of around 800 delegates for their course in Bonn today. So far, the base has followed everywhere, delighted with election victories and high poll numbers. But now the “grumbling” that has been talked about for a long time could become more. If the members dare to get their own party superstars Robert Habeck and Annalena Baerbock off the podium.

Headwind for nuclear power reserve operation

As of today, every day has its own conflict zone ready: On Friday evening, the federal executive board wants to advertise in a motion for “secure energy supply in winter” – specifically: for Habeck’s solution to run two nuclear power plants, if necessary, until spring 2023. There are a number of dissenting voices, almost all in one direction: shutdown at the turn of the year. A stretching operation could “quickly become a door opener for an extension of the running time,” says an application that has signatories from Berlin, Hamburg and Lower Saxony, among others.

It is striking that these demands have few supporters from southern Germany – despite the controversial nuclear power plant right on the doorstep. Greens from Bavaria or Baden-Württemberg, who are seriously concerned about the supply of their regions without nuclear power, have so far only hesitantly spoken out in the debate. But there are.

Which red line is the party leadership issuing?

It seems a bit as if the Greens are having their own nuclear debate. Past the confrontation that is occupying the traffic light. There are many maximum demands on the table that even call into question their own stress test – and thus also the argumentation of the party leadership that they want to make decisions based on facts and concrete scenarios.

Observers will follow closely: Are negotiations being negotiated with the SPD and FDP behind the scenes? How and when does Habeck speak? Did he maybe just get the crucial Chancellor SMS? And which red line is the party leadership issuing? Is something shifting? That a traffic light agreement bursts in the middle of the party congress is considered rather unlikely.

Criticism of Habeck and Baerbock?

Such a common opponent, i.e. the FDP, could also create unity and mitigate attacks on one’s own ministerial team. Criticism aimed directly at them has already been cleared up by the base: Berlin Greens in particular wanted to ask the ministers at the party conference to vacate their place in the parliamentary group. Separation of office and mandate – a green classic that the government would not adhere to. As a minister, you would not have much time for parliamentary group work anyway, according to the reasoning.

But in an online vote, the motion didn’t make it onto the agenda: “4,000 members voted,” says Federal Managing Director Emily Büning. The party base did not consider the issue “important enough to deal with at the party congress”. Possibly a sign that the criticism of Habeck or Baerbock in Bonn could be limited.

The Foreign Minister will promote her course on Saturday. Here, too, there are numerous motions that want to switch slightly or even strongly. After all, the Green policy still states that “exports of weapons and armaments (…) to war zones” are rejected.

First party congress in attendance since 2019

On Sunday, climate policy and the exit from coal will be up for debate. The decision to dig up Lützerath angered the young in particular: “We can only meet our climate goals if the coal under the village is not burned,” says Timon Dzienus, federal spokesman for the Green Youth. He expects a “clear signal” from the party congress and advocates a “moratorium on evictions”.

The whole agenda seems a bit as if particularly painful debates shouldn’t get a prime-time slot: Friday’s nuclear power debate could be just before midnight. Sunday is about climate and coal, possibly in the middle of the farewell hustle and bustle. It’s the first party conference of the Greens in presence since 2019. There will finally be big applause, heckling, grumbling or protest – just how much of it is difficult to predict with the Greens right now.