The Green Party’s high-level negotiation group for the coalition discussions involving the Red-Red-Green parties shows no representation from individuals who grew up in the eastern part of the city or elsewhere in Eastern Germany. This lack of diverse membership has caused confusion and disagreement within the party, according to the newspaper Tagesspiegel.
Michael Kellner, the party’s long-serving federal executive director who comes from Thuringia, told Tagesspiegel that Eastern Germans should be included at the table, especially in a city like Berlin. He emphasized that a party with “Bündnis 90” in its name should not overlook this aspect.
Julia Schneider, a Member of the Bundestag representing the Pankow constituency, also criticized the composition of her own state association’s team. She expressed regret that none of the main negotiation group members possess the socialization experience of Eastern Germany for the Green Party. Schneider added that there is still potential and room for improvement in how this is utilized in the future. Notably, Schneider herself grew up in both Berlin-Lichtenberg and Freiburg im Breisgau.
Out of the eight politicians appointed by the Greens to the main negotiation team, only two were born in Berlin, and both hail from the western part of the city. While Klara Schedlich is from Reinickendorf and Filiz Keküllüoglu is from Kreuzberg, the latter is active as a councilor in Lichtenberg. Schneider welcomed the fact that experiences from an East Berlin district are at least being factored in this manner.
