Franziska Brantner, a prominent member of Germany’s Green Party, has vowed to “make Green great again,” a play on former U.S. President Donald Trump’s slogan. She has been a vocal critic of Trump, particularly in relation to his stances on global climate policy, which she considers a threat.
Brantner will remain in her role as State Secretary in Germany’s economy ministry, led by Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck. Habeck, a senior figure in the Green Party, is anticipated to be officially nominated as their chancellor candidate in the near future.
A seasoned political figure with extensive European Union experience, Brantner has held significant responsibilities, including overseeing EU and trade policy in her current ministry. She has also previously served as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) and currently serves as Germany’s special representative for an international initiative aimed at reducing corruption in the extractive industries sector.
During a recent speech, Brantner emphasized the importance of peace in Europe, particularly in Ukraine. However, she made it clear that her vision for peace did not equate to “submission” to Russian President Vladimir Putin. She underscored Europe’s newfound independence from Russian gas and committed to strengthening the continent’s security.
Brantner and Felix Banaszak, both elected in Wiesbaden on Saturday, will co-lead the Greens following a turbulent period within the party. The previous leadership duo, Ricarda Lang and Omid Nouripour, resigned in September after poor election results in three eastern German states.
In light of the recent collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s traffic-light coalition government, the new Green leadership will face the challenge of rebuilding the party’s standing. Currently, the Greens are polling around 11 percent.
Additionally, Sven Giegold—the former State Secretary for Economic Affairs and a former MEP—has been appointed as the party’s political director in the new leadership structure.
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