Following the announcement that Green Youth co-leader Jette Nietzard will not seek re-election, prominent Green Party politician and former Consumer Protection Minister Renate Künast is calling for improved dialogue between the youth wing and the parent party. “Her decision must now absolutely be a catalyst for a fresh start in communication on both sides” Künast told the “Spiegel” magazine.
Künast stated she had previously voiced criticism of Nietzard’s positions, acknowledging that disagreement is part of political discourse. “However, from a human perspective, one must neither shout at someone nor abandon them” she added. The 26-year-old Nietzard recently revealed in a video that she had been heckled and shouted at by party members.
Nietzard had faced internal criticism for several controversial statements, with some leading Green politicians suggesting she consider leaving the party. Her co-leader, Jakob Blasel, lamented that rather than engaging with Nietzard’s arguments, “people from within the party preferred to publicly attack an individual”.
