Ricarda Lang, a former leader of the Green Party, has admitted that her party has made mistakes in its handling of the migration debate. Speaking to n-tv, she stated, “I think we have made a mistake. And that is that the entire integration debate has fallen completely behind in recent years.” Lang criticized the Greens for allowing the discussion to be dominated only by those who want to debate who is arriving and how quickly they should leave, suggesting that the party hesitated to address difficult issues for fear of causing problems, thereby leaving the topic to others.
Reflecting on her years living in the Berlin district of Neukölln, Lang pointed out that radicalization is visible there, particularly among young men. She highlighted the concerns of teachers, who feel overwhelmed in their classrooms, arguing that the Greens need to place these serious issues more prominently in their focus. She concluded that they cannot propose solutions without first acknowledging the problem, noting that if they insist the problem does not exist, discussion of solutions becomes impossible.
Felix Banaszak, the Green Party leader, echoed this sentiment after asserting to n-tv that for months, he aimed to stimulate change “in exactly this direction.” He argued that anyone aiming to implement a progressive migration policy cannot present the impression of seeing only the part of reality that comfortably fits their own agenda. Instead, he stressed the necessity of “clearly naming the things that other people also see.”
Banaszak used his response to the attack on the Berlin Christopher Street Day (CSD) in the summer as an example, mentioning that he deliberately spoke “very clearly about Islamism” and the ideology behind it as a motive for the violence. He dismissed the notion that one should avoid naming Islamism out of fear because the word itself contains ‘Islam,’ stating that to ignore the topic is wrong and would lead to disaster, because it contributes to people saying, “You can’t even say what is.”
He argued that politics must recognize two things simultaneously: “Islamism exists, and so does anti-Muslim exclusion.” While acknowledging radicalization, he asserted that there are also drivers for this, which are rooted in the flawed policies of the mainstream society. He also pointed to organized crime as a real problem, affecting people from diverse communities, such as the Italian mentioned who allegedly had to pay protection money.
Banaszak insisted that his view on Islamism is unequivocal: “It is a poison for our society.” He expressed his desire that the Green Party’s platform should include security against Islamism.
However, Banaszak also warned against generalizations. He firmly stated that the party will not close borders, restrict themselves, or automatically suspect every individual whose name begins with Al or El. He stressed that anyone genuinely advocating this stance must demonstrate that they acknowledge, take seriously, and fight against these deficiencies with a robust political approach.
Lang clarified that Islamism and far-right extremism are not the same ideology, but they are united in their “battle against universal dignity and freedom.” She argued that losing credibility occurs when ideology is only acknowledged if it aligns with one’s worldview, or when silence is maintained on party conference grounds because it might result in “one less vote.” She also noted this hypocrisy in conservatives, who may speak out vehemently during Islamist attacks but remain silent during far-right assaults on CSDs. In her view, the Greens must defend human dignity and freedom against all enemies, regardless of whether they come from the far-right or Islamist sphere.
Banaszak conceded that he had used phrasing in the debate regarding Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s comments-specifically regarding “urban landscapes”-which he would not use again today. He maintained that the debate itself requires seriously addressing why Merz’s comments provoked not just outrage, but also the belief among some that “he has a point somewhere.” He argued that demonizing Merz solely is ineffective, citing examples from his home area in Duisburg, where many of the people he referred to live.
The Islamist attack on the Berlin CSD on July 25, 2026, resulted in the death of one woman and 31 injuries. The Greens are scheduled to elect their national party leadership in Berlin from December 4 to 6, with Banaszak and co-chair Franziska Brantner running again.
