Eco-Nerds Go Mainstream, Driving German Greens to Brink of Power
- Once ridiculed, the Greens have become Germany’s No. 1 party
- Chancellor race open after Merkel’s chosen successor stumbles
The Greens in the German parliament in 1983.
Photographer: Ulrich Baumgarten via Getty Images
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When the scruffy Greens marched into German parliament nearly four decades ago in jeans and sneakers, they were sidelined and ridiculed. Today, they have a legitimate shot at governing Europe’s largest economy.
For the first time, the Greens overtook Angela Merkel’s ruling Christian Democrat-led bloc this month in polls to become the No. 1 political party. Robert Habeck, their stubble-cheeked co-chairman, would thrash Merkel’s heir apparent, garnering more than twice as many supporters saying they want him as chancellor.