The boom of the German Greens: a lesson for Italy too

I German greens (i The green) are one of the main European political innovations of these times, even if they were not born yesterday. They are not just a movement, but a real political party, dominated by a strong ecological sense, but which has distinguished itself for its civic commitment, based on social justice and also on the desire to combine environmental protection with a more general project of modernization of Germany. They have increased their popularity by reflecting the will of many citizens, concerned about sustainability and the environment, but above all for their ability to address issues, often overshadowed. They have been able to involve very diverse voters, from young to old, opposing the majority parties. But the most important aspect is that they have never succumbed to populist temptations, even with regard to the problem of immigration.

The green wave is affecting several countries, not just Germany, where by now the Grünen, with 22%, they overtook the Social Democrats (in third place with the far-right AFD) and they are getting closer and closer to the popular ones (Cdu and Csu in first place with 28%). Also noteworthy are France, where they reached third place and Austria, where in 2019 they managed to obtain 10 points more than in 2017. Speaking of numbers, 69 green parliamentarians sit in the European Parliament. Contrary to the rest of Europe, in Greece only 0,9%, not so much worse than Italy, where they get only 2,3% of the electorate.

One wonders if the German Greens will come to be the first force in the country, or if a coalition is possible for the next government formed by the CDU, CSU and Greens, or – in the event that Merkel fails to be replaced successfully – if even the next chancellor will be green. In any case, the German Greens are now a reference model for many, especially for Italy.

HOW THEY DIFFER FROM THE ITALIAN MODEL

In Italy the greens still remain on the margins, even in the United Kingdom they have a greater consensus, while in our country they can't even cross the threshold to enter Parliament. Probably a first factor is that in Italy the environment and sustainability are seen as separate issues from economic development and technological innovation.

On the one hand, concern for issues such as unemployment and poverty distract citizens from the problem of climate change. On the other hand, the Italian parties have failed to translate the environmental message into terms of opportunity and growth for the country.

Another factor concerns the type of voter. While in Germany the socialists are backward, managing the Greens to gain their votes, in Italy the Democratic Party still holds the court, implementing environmental factors in their program, but failing to materialize them. So much so that in our country the environmental problem is perceived almost as an obstacle to development and innovation, and not as a solution.

Furthermore, unlike the Italian political scenario, the German Greens are not led by a famous political leader, on the contrary they are characterized precisely by a decentralized structure (thanks also to the federal system). The leadership of the party, at the national level, is entrusted to Robert Habeck e Annalena Baerbock. The fact of having a double leadership, which alternates regularly, makes it possible to propose different realities within the party itself. The absence of a single leader is therefore not a weakness, but a strength.

The particularity of this party lies in their ability to establish themselves as an innovative, credible force, but with a great government experience, the result of their political history.

THE HISTORY OF THE GERMAN GREENS

The Greens were born in the XNUMXs in West Germany, by environmentalists and pacifists aimed at improving the quality of life in large cities, strongly opposed to the use of nuclear energy. In 1990, it merged with Alliance 90, the civil rights movement in East Germany.

Despite this merger, the party went through ups and downs, until the 2009 federal elections in which the opposition between Angela Merkel's party and the social democrat party brought the environmentalist party to the fore, managing to propose itself as a governing force. But only with the 2019 European elections, the party reaches its peak obtaining 20,5% with more than 7 and a half million votes.

The POLITICAL PROGRAM

The Grünen have managed over the years to interpose themselves between two political forces: the social democrats (SPD) and the conservatives (CSU and CUD). This increasingly growing party on the European political scene has been able to blend modernization and sustainability in their programs. Central is climate change, whose purpose is to reduce pollution, favoring ecological industries, but above all renewable and solar energy.

The second theme, to which this party places a lot of emphasis, is the gender equality between men and women, but also for immigrants, with the removal of barriers that favor the disabled and the elderly. The Green Party also underlines the importance of fighting discrimination based on race, religion and against homosexuals.

The third point of their program is immigration, according to which their integration in Germany, for example through the study of the language, would improve their quality of life. Without placing entry limits, but adopting measures to control the flows.

The fourth point, however, concerns the battle to increase the use of tech, or rather, of digitization in companies. All in respect of the environment and in the protection of personal data.

Last but not least is the vision of Europe. According to Die Grünen the European Union must be strengthened, breaking down all the limits that hinder the pursuit of the two main objectives, such as peace and prosperity.

The success of this party demonstrates how a progressive policy, aimed at the public good, can be an enormous example for all countries, especially Italy, where it is now difficult to recognize oneself in one of the different parties, increasingly committed to fighting each other each other, putting the interests of citizens in the background. The German case demonstrates that it is possible to develop an autonomous and pro-European political force capable of combining the climate crisis with the social and democratic one. Let's hope that the German Greens lead the way.