Cem Özdemir: “Five to twelve” – Green politician urges government to be united

Baden-Württemberg's Green Prime Minister Cem Özdemir has called on the black-red federal government to pull together more and work in a goal-oriented manner. »In the end you have to go out and speak with one voice and stand by the agreements. “It’s not just a question of leadership, but also of the discipline of everyone involved,” the Green politician told “Welt am Sonntag”.

Democracy does need conflict. »But what people can no longer tolerate is arguments without results. And we have that in Berlin,” said Özdemir. When asked whether he still trusted Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) to turn the federal government into a genuine reform government, the politician said: “Of course. He's been in business long enough. But now it's really five to twelve. Now the hourglass is running.”

Özdemir also looked at foreign policy. You are only as strong in foreign policy as you are capable of reforming domestic policy. "The Chancellor's entire performance will only impress Putin and the others as long as he manages to advance the country domestically," he said, referring to Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin. The CDU should not now make the mistake that other center-right parties made by running after the populists: “First vote, then tolerate, then tolerate, at some point form a coalition.” He can only warn. "Because in the end there is self-dissolution."