Green is the New Normal in Germany

The German Green Party has experienced a significant rise in support, surpassing the Social Democrats (SPD) in the 2019 European elections and becoming a leading force in German politics. This momentum is attributed to the party's transition from an anti-establishment movement to a 'responsible political actor' capable of governing, as evidenced by its presence in nine regional governments. The party's success is further driven by the leadership of Robert Habeck and Annalena Baerbock, who have moved beyond internal ideological divides to embrace 'radical realism'—a strategy that bridges contradictions between economy and ecology. This shift coincides with a broader restructuring of the German political landscape, where traditional 'Volksparteien' (people's parties) like the CDU and SPD are losing influence as society becomes more individualised and climate change becomes a primary public concern.

• The German Greens achieved a historic electoral surge in the 2019 European elections, receiving 20.5 per cent of the vote and surpassing the Social Democrats (SPD) to become the second strongest party.
• The party has transitioned from its anti-establishment roots to a governing entity, currently participating in coalitions across nine Länder regions, including a leading role in Baden-Württemberg.
• Under the leadership of Robert Habeck and Annalena Baerbock, the party has replaced duplicated office structures for its left-wing ('Fundi') and pragmatic ('Realo') wings with a strengthened think-tank capacity and policy advisors.
• The rise of the Greens is linked to a shift in public discourse where climate change has displaced immigration as the most pressing issue for over 40 per cent of survey respondents.
• The document argues that traditional German 'Volksparteien' (CDU and SPD) are declining because they rely on a binary logic of 'capital and labour' that no longer fits a diverse, individualised 21st-century society.
• The Greens have adopted a 'complementary political logic' or 'radical realism' to bridge societal divides, such as establishing an economic advisory council with top CEOs to align economic and environmental interests.
• The party's appeal is strongest among younger voters, with 34 per cent of those under 25 voting for the Greens in the 2019 European elections.

APA

Kefferpütz, R. (2019). Green is the New Normal in Germany. Green European Journal. https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/green-is-the-new-normal-in-german/

Chicago

Kefferpütz, Roderick. Green is the New Normal in Germany. Green European Journal, 2019. https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/green-is-the-new-normal-in-german/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Kefferpütz |first1=Roderick |title=Green is the New Normal in Germany |publisher=Green European Journal |date=25 October 2019 |url=https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/green-is-the-new-normal-in-german/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{kefferptz2019green, author = {Kefferpütz, Roderick}, title = {{Green is the New Normal in Germany}}, institution = {Green European Journal}, year = {2019}, month = oct, url = {https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/green-is-the-new-normal-in-german/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }