The Greens (Germany)

The Greens (Germany)
Name	The Greens
Native name	Bündnis 90/Die Grünen
Foundation	14 January 1993 (merger)
Predecessor	The Greens (West Germany), Alliance 90
Ideology	Green politics, Progressivism, Pro-Europeanism
Position	Centre-left to left-wing
International	Global Greens
European	European Green Party
Europarl	The Greens–European Free Alliance
Colours	Green
Seats1 title	Bundestag
Seats1	118, 736
Seats2 title	Bundesrat
Seats2	4, 69
Seats3 title	European Parliament, (German seats)
Seats3	21, 96
Seats4 title	State Parliaments
Seats4	280, 1884

The Greens (Germany). Officially known as Bündnis 90/Die Grünen, it is a major political party in Germany renowned for its foundational commitment to environmentalism, social justice, and grassroots democracy. Formed in 1993 from a merger of the western Greens and the eastern civil rights movement Alliance 90, the party has grown from a protest movement into a governing force, participating in federal coalition governments with the SPD and holding key ministerial positions. Its influence extends to the European Parliament through the European Green Party and it has shaped pivotal national policies on climate, energy, and foreign affairs.

History

The party's origins lie in the new social movements of the 1970s, including the anti-nuclear movement, the peace movement, and feminism, which coalesced into The Greens in 1980. The party first entered the Bundestag in 1983, with prominent early figures like Petra Kelly and Joschka Fischer. A pivotal moment was the 1998 federal election, leading to a red–green coalition with Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, where Fischer served as Vice Chancellor and Foreign Minister. After a period in opposition following the 2005 election, the party returned to government in 2021 as part of a traffic light coalition with the SPD and the FDP, with leaders Annalena Baerbock and Robert Habeck taking senior cabinet roles.

Ideology and political positions

Core ideology is rooted in Green politics, combining ecological responsibility with social liberalism and a commitment to human rights. Key policy pillars include aggressive action on climate change, such as the phase-out of coal and expansion of renewable energy under the EEG law. The party advocates for a progressive social market economy, digitalization, and strengthening the European Union, while maintaining a pacifist-oriented foreign policy that has evolved to support arms deliveries to Ukraine following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. It also champions policies for LGBTQ+ rights, gender equality, and modernizing immigration to Germany.

Electoral results and voter base

The party achieved its best federal result in the 2021 German federal election, winning 14.8% of the vote and 118 seats. Its voter base is traditionally strongest among younger, urban, and university-educated demographics, with significant support in cities like Freiburg, Berlin, and Hamburg. It performs consistently well in state elections, leading governments in states like Baden-Württemberg under Minister-President Winfried Kretschmann and participating in coalitions in North Rhine-Westphalia and Schleswig-Holstein. Support is also robust in elections for the European Parliament.

Organization and structure

The party is organized with a strong emphasis on grassroots democracy and internal pluralism, featuring organized factions such as the Realo (pragmatist) and Fundi (fundamentalist) wings. The highest federal body is the Party Congress, while day-to-day leadership is provided by a dual executive, currently Omid Nouripour and Ricarda Lang. The affiliated Green Youth serves as its youth wing, and the Heinrich Böll Foundation, named for the writer Heinrich Böll, functions as its political foundation. State associations hold significant autonomy in regional politics.

International affiliations

The party is a founding member of the European Green Party and its MEPs sit in the Greens–European Free Alliance group in the European Parliament. Globally, it is part of the Global Greens network. It maintains close ties with other green parties worldwide, such as Europe Écologie Les Verts in France and the Green Party of England and Wales, and actively engages in transnational advocacy on climate policy through forums like the United Nations Climate Change conference.

Criticism and controversies

The party has faced criticism from industry groups and some economists for the economic costs of its ambitious Energiewende transition policies. Its support for liberal migration policies has been contested by parties like the AfD and the CDU. Internal tensions have surfaced over security policy, particularly regarding support for Bundeswehr missions and arms exports. Historical controversies include the 1999 decision to support NATO intervention in the Kosovo War and past associations of some members with far-left groups like the Revolutionary Cells.

Category:Political parties in Germany Category:Green political parties Category:1993 establishments in Germany