Black-Green are the colors of the moment. Black - the traditional party color of the Christian Democrats (CDU) and Green, the proud color of Die Grünen, Germany's Green party. The weakness of the two big established parties in Germany (Volksparteien CDU,SPD) and the rise of the LEFT party have led to new political considerations which a decade ago would have been pure fantasy. The CDU's traditional political ally - the LIberals (FDP) - has lost its way with an unpopular neo-liberal course; the ruling Red/Black (SPD/CDU) Grand Coalition in Berlin is viewed as dysfunctional. So the results in the state elections in Hamburg last weekend have provided a new chance for the Greens. Chancellor Angela Merkel has already blessed a new alliance:
"Angela Merkel, Germany’s Christian Democratic chancellor, on Monday gave her approval to the creation of the first coalition of the CDU and Greens in a move that could transform the country’s party-political landscape."
The Greens risk becoming marginalized by the surging LEFT party; the party's identity would be subsumed in a "me-too" alliance with the SPD, or in a "Red-Red-Green" coalition. Cooperation with Germany's largest party - the conservative CDU - could further mainstream the core environmental concerns of the party and promote the greening of Germany industry.
Still, a Black-Green coalition in the state of Hamburg is not without risks. The blogger DoDo on European Tribune writes:
However, Black-Green is dangerous for the Greens: coalitions with the SPD already resulted in tough-to-stomach compromises, the CDU can only demand more, and could scare away the Green left. Especially in Hamburg: even if the local CDU is more progressive, so is GAL, the local Greens, with its alternative-left elements and still strong basis democracy (the party leadership has no monopoly on decisions).
Disenchanted left-oriented Green members may bolt to the LEFT party. But Black-Green cooperation is not without precedence in Germany. The city of Frankfurt has been governed for some time by a CDU/Green coaltion. And even in Hamburg itself the district of Altona put in a CDU/Green council four years ago. How has Black-Green worked there? Quite well, according to Die Zeit:
"Dass es mit der CDU aber auch anders funktionieren kann, haben die Grünen in Altona erlebt. Dort haben Schwarze und Grüne in den vergangenen vier Jahren gemeinsam regiert. Plötzlich war es mit der CDU möglich, medizinische Versorgung für Illegale aufzubauen, eine Wohngruppe für psychisch kranke Migranten einzurichten und ein Verkehrskonzept, bei dem alle Straßenteilnehmer vom Fußgänger bis zum Porsche-Fahrer gleichberechtigt behandelt werden, zumindest anzudenken. Auch die Grünen konnten sich vom Koalitionspartner einiges abschauen. „Etwa wie man mit Investoren umgeht“, sagt Altonas Grünen-Chefin Gesche Boehlich: „Wenn ein Investor etwas bauen will, meldet er sich nicht bei uns. Bei den Grünen rufen nur die Leute an, die sich beschweren, dass deswegen ein Baum gefällt werden soll“, sagt die Bezirkspolitikerin. Erst in der Koalition mit der CDU sei ihre Partei frühzeitig an solchen Projekten beteiligt gewesen und hätte Einfluss nehmen können."
Black-Green may be seen by many cynical observers as pure opportunism by the once radical party. But it is a chance for the Greens to have a major impact. And if it does happen in Hamburg it can change the political landscape far beyond the Hanseatic city.
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