After its victory in Baden‑Württemberg, the Greens are turning their sights on voters who were left disenfranchised by the FDP’s disastrous showing in its home state. “We will learn from the election, especially given the FDP’s weakness” said Greens parliamentary group leader Britta Haßelmann in a Thursday interview with the Süddeutsche Zeitung. “We also want to offer something to FDP voters”.
In the state election the FDP’s share of second votes fell to just 4.4 %, a collapse that saw it lose all seats in the Landtag. Haßelmann noted that the issues the FDP has traditionally championed-freedom, rule of law, and citizens’ rights-remain vital today and fit squarely within the Greens’ core platform.
The result, however, highlighted how nearly extinct the liberal bloc has become. “We must be clear: the FDP no longer has the strength to lift that potential itself” she said. “For the Greens, there is enormous potential”.
Haßelmann also rejected a suggestion from Union faction leader Jens Spahn (CDU) to split the prime minister’s term amid the stalemate in the Stuttgart Landtag. “That is truly ridiculous” she replied. “We know Spahn can be brazen, demanding bold moves. Sharing the office? The Greens have won, and we will be the prime minister”. While the outcome was close, such a proposal had never before been challenged.
