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And they still exist, the old wrath of the Greens. “Oh man!” Jürgen Trittin complains in front of his wall of books in Berlin. The former environment minister has already started three times to send a message from his home computer to the Green Party conference. This is direct democracy, but before it can really begin, Trittin has to interrupt. Reverb and reverb in digital orbit. At some point, he lets his hand slide down over the creaking keyboard. “You have to be as calm as the presidium,” advises the director from the broadcasting center.
On Sunday morning at the Congress of the digital Green Party, the third day of a marathon for the green cosmos. Core values, climate protection, genetic engineering, social diversity, justice, advocacy – no green issue is left out of this meeting, which is being held online due to Covid-19. The Greens are giving themselves a new basic program and working their way through a debate that is never without compromise, but is almost always fast. Voting online is laborious, due to technology and because everything that defines party conferences is missing.
This does not prevent the leaders of the Greens from conveying confidence and reaffirming their claim to leadership. “Let’s make 2021 the beginning of a new era,” party leader Annalena Baerbock said at the start of the party conference. A break with the party’s ecologists is avoided and a compromise on climate protection is drawn up. Co-chief Robert Habeck promotes the ability to form an alliance and reminds that state revenues must increase to meet the next tasks. The subject of tax increases is mentioned here.
You might think that there was a dispute with the Greens yesterday. Until it’s Jürgen Trittin’s turn. He hits the table first because the technology is not working, then a little angry speech follows, which otherwise would have likely caused an uproar in the room. This is the question of whether national referenda should be on the party’s program. The leadership of the Greens thinks: no. It proposes “Citizen Councils” so that the “everyday experience” of voters is heard more strongly on selected issues.
The silver back of the party is enraged
Too little direct democracy, says the party’s founder, Lukas Beckmann, who is also calling for referendums at the federal level. They are already anchored in 16 state constitutions. Those who can get involved and have to “convince the general public” remain democratic and do not back down. Another delegate warns of a “green self-amputation” if the central theme of the referendum is not taken into account.
Party leader Robert Habeck sees it completely differently. He warns against “anti-parliamentarism” and against an attitude that can be summed up in the words: “The people know better” if binding referendums were put before parliamentary decisions.
Jürgen Trittin argues similarly. “Applicants want to change the operating system,” he warns. A competition between elected representatives and “supposed representatives of the people” is dangerous. This can be seen in countries like Hungary, where nationalists and populists like Viktor Orbán, invoking the will of the people, are attacking “the most important achievement in post-war history, a united Europe.”
But yes, the mood is slowly rising among the party’s silverbacks. European politician Reinhard Bütikofer starts typing angrily on the digital device. “Jürgen Trittin, of all people, speaks in favor of Habeck’s rejection of the referenda. And it is the least understanding possible,” he writes on Twitter. “Arrogance towards his own base is coming out of all his buttonholes.” That in turn calls Cem Özedemir to the scene. The former party leader thanks Habeck and Trittin “for excellent reasons.” The rhetorical figure of “the people against those above” has nothing to do with emancipatory and liberal politics. The federal board wins the vote, just barely.
Basic income, daycare expenses, policemen: three defeats of the party leadership
The party leadership has also suffered defeats, and one is particularly painful. On Saturday afternoon, she is defeated in an unconditional basic income vote. The party leadership had rejected it and instead campaigned for so-called guarantee insurance, which is only paid when income and assets are insufficient. The party leadership is also subject to the fees for kindergartens and schools. Care should be free for everyone, including the children of high-income people. This differs from the green course above.
Under pressure from the Green Youth, a passage about the police is corrected. They protect security and fundamental rights, they say. The requirement for independent police officers was added. Criminal behavior and structural deficiencies must “be clarified and sanctioned without undue consideration.”
The day before, it was decided to carefully open up the topic of genetic engineering in agriculture. Its use should be prohibited, but its investigation should be possible. Annalena Bearbock said that when the game conference ended, you had “three days full of surprises” behind you. Habeck praised the “incredible discipline” of everyone involved: “The other parties should follow us first.”
