Who will the Greens send as their candidate for chancellor in the next federal election? According to speculation, Baerbock should let Habeck go first. But he now speaks out.
Berlin – Annalena Baerbock or Robert Habeck? It is not yet clear who will run for chancellor for the Greens in next year's federal election. According to reports, Robert Habeck will be sent into the race this time. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock now wants to let him go first after her chance in 2021. After many discussions about the K question among the Greens, Scholz's deputy is now speaking out. And he makes it clear: In his opinion, this is not the right time to discuss a candidacy for chancellor.
Chancellor question from the Greens: Robert Habeck is clear about the timing of the debate
As economics minister in the traffic light government, Habeck had to put up with a lot of criticism over the heating law, for example. But the Green politician was repeatedly praised. His video messages on the Hamas attack or the farmers' protests were particularly well received. Habeck as the top candidate for the upcoming federal election does not seem unreasonable. But for Robert Habeck it is – at least for the moment. When asked whether the Greens would even nominate a candidate to run for chancellor in 2025, he told the newspapers of the Funke media group: “We will decide everything at the right time, this debate is not up for now.”
Habeck with a word of power on the Green Chancellor question – and praise for Baerbock
Germany and Europe are currently facing the great challenge of “asserting themselves in a crisis-ridden world, economically and in terms of security policy,” said Habeck. He and his party colleague Annalena Baerbock are “doing everything in the federal government to work for the security and freedom of our republic.” The daily work of both the Economics Minister and the Foreign Minister derives from this. “What is certainly not part of it is circling around ourselves,” it continues. Habeck's entire energy is currently focused on his roles as climate protection and economics minister and vice chancellor. “That is my understanding of office,” said the Green politician. He doesn't seem to be thinking about a future position as Federal Chancellor.
In the interview, Habeck also praised Baerbock, who travels from crisis to crisis and thereby strengthens “Germany’s role in the world”. Since the latest escalations in the Middle East conflict, the Foreign Minister has repeatedly visited Israel and spoken about the situation there. In contrast to Habeck, she does not use Instagram explanatory videos. Baerbock's environment says that they want to decide the top candidate for the upcoming election in a primary election if there are several promising candidates.
Neither Habeck nor Baerbock? The European elections are said to be decisive for the Greens’ candidacy for chancellor
It should be clear within the party that a power struggle between Baerbock and Habeck should be avoided. This could cause harm to the losing candidate. A person who was part of the Greens' last federal election campaign says: No matter which candidate you ultimately choose, both have to "play an outstanding role as a team" in the election campaign.
Despite Habeck's clear refusal to answer the K question now, the Greens want to agree after the European elections on whether a candidate for chancellor will be sent into the race. The current poll numbers do not bode well for the party, which was the second strongest force in the last European elections. According to the results of the elections research group, the party only has 12 percent. The Sunday question for a German federal government also paints a rather weak picture of the Greens, who have around 15 percent there.
The Greens still have time to position themselves better in surveys until the federal election in late summer 2025. It remains to be seen whether the traffic light party will nominate a candidate. Also whether it will actually be the “Crisis Chancellor” Habeck.
(nbe with material from dpa)