Following the significant electoral defeats suffered by the Union in the state elections in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Berlin, the Green Party leadership has criticized the crisis management employed by Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU). Speaking to the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”, Green Party chief Franziska Brantner stated that Merz’s approach lacks “any orientation or sense for the mood in the country.” She argued that German citizens would support just reforms and take action if the objective were clear, but currently, “the citizens in this country do not know where the Chancellor is heading.”
Brantner also cautioned against the international repercussions that an ongoing political crisis in Berlin could provoke. “Naturally, instability is a gift to Putin and his associates,” she warned. According to Brantner, concerns about Russian attacks are growing along the eastern flank of NATO, while she pointed out that a chancellor who generates more uncertainty with every speech is exacerbating the situation. Germany, she stressed, now needs to respond decisively. While noting that “Putin is not the only problem,” Brantner added that China is attempting to disrupt the domestic economy through unfair currency manipulation and dumping, demanding a resolute response using tariffs.
In the fight to protect democracy, Brantner called for a review process regarding a ban on the AfD party, citing “numerous indications that this party is unconstitutional.” Furthermore, she insisted on a tougher stance against social media platforms that fail to comply with laws. “These platforms are destroying our democracy. They are designed in such a way that lies and propaganda spread faster than the truth.” She urged the EU Commission to enforce laws more strictly and introduce new regulations. Brantner cited Spain’s announcement-that it intends to hold top executives of large tech corporations criminally liable if they fail to combat illegal content or algorithmic manipulation-as a model they should follow.
