Cem Özdemir with 97 percent: Green candidate for the 2026 state election!

Cem Özdemir with 97 percent: Green candidate for the 2026 state election!

The state party conference of the Greens in Heidenheim brought with it important decisions for the future of the party and the country. Last Saturday, delegates voted with an overwhelming 97 percent for Cem Özdemir as prime ministerial candidate for the 2026 state elections. Özdemir, the former Federal Minister of Agriculture, will succeed long-time Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann and is determined to open a new chapter for Baden-Württemberg without becoming a successor to the throne. Kretschmann praised Özdemir as down-to-earth, pragmatic and cosmopolitan, which gave him a lot of support in the party.

The election to the state parliament list also included significant nominations. Andreas Schwarz, who has been a member of the state parliament since 2016 and represents the Kirchheim constituency, received 96.3 percent approval and will take fourth place on the state list. He is committed to progress, climate protection, social solidarity and an innovative economy. Special mention was also made of Andrea Lindlohr, who has been a member of the state parliament since 2011 and came in eleventh against Ute Leidig. Lindlohr focuses on issues such as affordable housing and climate-friendly construction, key concerns for many voters in Baden-Württemberg.

Important nominations and focal points

Another candidate who stands out in the discussion is Clara Schweizer. With 95 percent approval, she was nominated in 21st place for the Nürtingen constituency and is the top candidate of the Green Youth in Baden-Württemberg. She will seek to succeed Kretschmann in the Nürtingen constituency and emphasizes the importance of climate protection at the local level.

In the current political landscape, the Greens in Baden-Württemberg are under pressure. According to surveys, the CDU leads with 31 percent, closely followed by the AfD with 19 percent and the Greens with 20 percent. However, 39 percent of those surveyed would like Özdemir to be Prime Minister, while only 18 percent would support Manuel Hagel from the CDU. This shows a certain potential for the Greens, especially under the leadership of Özdemir, who can now accompany him as a powerful voice in the coming election campaign.

Strategic direction and topics

The Greens' main issues, both in Baden-Württemberg and North Rhine-Westphalia, include affordable housing, infrastructure projects and climate protection. The Greens in North Rhine-Westphalia are preparing at the same time for the local elections in September and are aiming to repeat their record result of 20 percent from the 2020 council and district elections. The state executive board called for a ban on the AfD and would like to strengthen municipal housing associations.

In times when social issues such as climate protection and social justice are becoming more and more present, the political work of the Greens is more important than ever. The party conference in Heidenheim underlines the Greens' determination to face these challenges and shape future-oriented policies. According to that Mirror An exciting debate in the context of climate protection and economic responsibility is expected in the next few weeks, which will affect both the Greens and the Union.