After the Greens’ heavy losses in the European elections, Baden-Württemberg’s Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann is calling on his party to change course: more openness to other approaches to climate protection, a limitation of irregular migration – and the sole leadership role for Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck.
“The question is: will the analysis now be self-critical and without regard to losses, or will it not be done again, as in the last federal election?” said the Green politician in the podcast “Table.Today” on the news portal “Table Media”. The federal Greens had apparently not adequately taken into account the concerns of the population.
When it comes to environmental and climate policy, Kretschmann suggested that the Greens do not give up their goals, but become more flexible. How these goals are achieved, “in terms of measures and means, we must be open,” stressed the only Green state leader. His party tends to set out ways to achieve a goal. But one should not make policies that go against the majority of the population, he said, citing the heating law from Habeck’s ministry.
Kretschmann is calling for more pragmatism in asylum policy. Irregular migration must be limited. Deporting criminals to Afghanistan should not be taboo. “Anyone who does something like that has forfeited their right to protection,” he said, referring to the Mannheim knife attacker. “He must serve his sentence, then he must get out of here.” There is “room for improvement” in the Greens’ refugee policy.
For the federal election, the 76-year-old advises the Greens to have a clear leadership structure. “Democracy needs leadership. That’s why I’m against dual leadership. In tough times, it has to be clear who is the boss.” When asked who that is, he answers: “The Vice Chancellor.”
