Cem Özdemir warns German government against fruitless political disputes

Cem Özdemir, the Minister-President of Baden-Württemberg, has issued warnings regarding the current state of German politics at both the federal and state levels.

Addressing the federal government, Özdemir urged political leaders to work toward concrete results rather than engaging in fruitless disputes. He emphasized that while democracy requires debate, citizens cannot tolerate conflict that fails to produce outcomes. He also noted that a nation's international strength is tied to its ability to implement domestic reforms.

Regarding the government formation talks in Berlin, Özdemir warned against an “Überbietungswettbewerb” (bidding war) where parties compete to implement the most extreme leftist policies. He called for sensible governance and urged parties to avoid chasing political fringes, stating that such behavior only strengthens extremist elements. He specifically noted that the center of politics should remain “reasonable” rather than shifting left or right.