The Greens governed this German state for 15 years – but is the party now losing its touch?

The Greens have governed the most unlikely German state for 15 years — the wealthy car capital Baden-Württemberg. For the first time in over a decade, the environmentalist party could lose their leadership there. What’s happening in the state?

The Green party in Germany was able to land its first — and only — leader of a German state, the equivalent of a state governor, in Baden-Württemberg. The state in south-west Germany is one of the wealthiest in the countries, and one of Europe’s economic powerhouses. Much of the strong economy is driven by the auto industry and its suppliers, with world-renowned companies like Mercedes, Porsche and Bosch based in the state. Ever more surprising that the Greens have led Baden-Württemberg for 15 years, with the charismatic Winfried Kretschmann at the helm. But as state elections loom on March 8, the Greens are head-to-head with the conservative CDU, and risk losing power in their stronghold after almost a decade. What has led the Greens to lose relevance? DW’s Giulia Saudelli traveled to the state to find out.

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