Overview

• Ricarda Lang, former co-leader of Germany's Green Party, has called for a departure from Robert Habeck's 'bridge-building' strategy, which she says is no longer effective.
• Lang proposes a new approach that balances forming alliances with being more conflict-ready on issues of genuine public importance.
• She emphasizes avoiding cultural or trivial disputes, instead focusing on conflicts that address citizens' real concerns, such as social justice and childcare.
• Lang argues that the Green Party must position itself as a strong progressive counterweight to a likely conservative government led by Friedrich Merz of the CDU.
• This strategic shift follows leadership changes in November 2024, with Franziska Brantner and Felix Banaszak taking over after a series of electoral setbacks.