A newly formed advisory board is set to convene for the first time next Tuesday, tasked with providing guidance to the Green Party’s leadership on matters pertaining to eastern Germany. The “Eastern Board” as it’s being referred to, comprises 17 external advisors alongside existing party figures, according to “taz”.
The composition reflects a deliberate effort to incorporate diverse perspectives. Among the external advisors is historian Ilko-Sascha Kowalczuk, whose research focuses on the history of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) and political scientist Judith Enders, a co-founder of the “Third Generation Eastern Germany” initiative. Veteran Green politicians such as former Bundestag Vice-President Katrin Göring-Eckardt and former Federal Commissioner for the Stasi Records, Marianne Birthler, are also included.
Representation extends to regional leadership, with current officeholders like Franziska Schubert (faction leader in Saxony) and Susan Sziborra-Seidlitz (party leader in Saxony-Anhalt) participating. Stefan Fassbinder, the sole Green mayor in eastern Germany (from Greifswald) and former GDR civil rights activist Grit Friedrichs also contribute to the board’s expertise. Younger voices are represented by Tammo Westphal (executive board member of Green Youth) and Lukas Mosler (state party executive in Saxony), who was a direct candidate in Bautzen during the 2021 federal election.
The establishment of the Eastern Board signals a recognized need for renewed strategic engagement in eastern Germany. Recent electoral setbacks, including the Green Party’s exit from state governments in Brandenburg and Thuringia and a potential loss of representation in Saxony and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern by 2026, prompted the federal leadership to announce corrective measures earlier this year.
According to Heiko Knopf, deputy Green Party chairman and instrumental in shaping the board’s composition, the selection process saw significant interest. “It was important to me to include a wide range of perspectives-volunteers, full-time professionals, internal and external individuals who don’t regularly interact with each other” Knopf stated.
Alongside Knopf, the board includes party leader Felix Banaszak – the sole member without direct experience within eastern Germany-as well as Michael Kellner, Carla Kniestedt, Tobias Kremkau, Luna Möbius and Nicole Peter. The board’s inaugural meeting is anticipated to pave the way for a reassessment of the Green Party’s approach to the region.
