The state elections in Baden-Württemberg have been decided: the Greens surprisingly came in first place with 30.2 percent, just ahead of the CDU with 29.7 percent. In the end, around 27,000 votes made the difference.

Lanz taunts the Green Party leader after Özdemir’s success

Since then, the mood between the two camps has been frosty, as the CDU sees itself as the victim of a “smear campaign”. For “Markus Lanz”, the narrow result became the starting point for a debate about the election campaign of Green Party lead candidate Cem Özdemir.

In the video: “There was a campaign that you let run”: CDU politician Strobl attacks Green Party leader Brantner

In his broadcast, Lanz initially said teasingly that Özdemir only became prime minister “because he very successfully pretended as if he had nothing to do with the Greens“. Addressing Green Party leader Franziska Brantner, he asked: “How much does that bother you? By that he means you.”

Brantner shook his head and clarified: “No, I am very happy about the really brilliant victory and the comeback that Cem made.”

However, Lanz remained skeptical and pointed to the external impact of the campaign: Özdemir did not mention “The Greens” on any of his election posters. Brantner reacted soberly and asserted: “He is a Green through and through and is running as such.”

Lanz harshly addressed Brantner: “Did Cem Özdemir deny the Green Party?”

Lanz then countered sharply: “Ms. Brantner, what kind of stories are we telling each other here? That’s nonsense!”

He just wondered why the top candidate in Baden-Württemberg “obviously” didn’t want to have anything to do with his party. Then the next swipe: “That sounds like Markus Söder.” Brantner immediately contradicted: “No, it’s not Markus Söder!”

When Lanz finally once again referred to Özdemir as “the Söder of the Greens,” he asked the question that hung over the debate: “Has Cem Özdemir disowned the Green Party?”

Thomas Strobl: “Please don’t put words in my mouth that I didn’t say”

Journalist Michael Bröcker answered clearly that it was the most “freedom-inducing election campaign against his own federal party”. Bröcker turned this into a fundamental strategic question because: “The question for the Greens is a strategic one now. Do the Greens want to take more chances with Özdemir? Then they will have to move radically to the center.”

For the CDU, Thomas Strobl, the Interior Minister of Baden-Württemberg, reacted to the final weeks of the election campaign with clear criticism. He made it clear: “I regret a little that the political climate in Baden-Württemberg has actually been quite poisoned by the ranks of the Greens in the last few weeks.” In this context, Strobl spoke of a “dirty election campaign” and claimed that “this green poison would continue to be sprayed” even after election day.

Green party leader Brantner countered with a serious expression: “Mr. Strobl just insinuated that we had commissioned the whole thing.” Strobl interrupted her angrily: “Please don’t put words in my mouth that I didn’t say! (…) That’s a pretty high horse you’re sitting on. (…) There was a campaign that you let run!” The CDU man added warningly: “Pride comes before a fall! And this choice of words, this arrogant manner, that doesn’t work (…) at all.”

Instead of resisting, Franziska Brantner tried to smooth things over: “I find it difficult when the dynamic is now just: black against green.” Lanz used this as a template to ask about the political consequences: “Is it clear to you that there will be a coalition with the Greens or are you not ruling out new elections?” Thomas Strobl answered surprisingly openly: “Nothing is clear in a democracy!”

Iran expert sees “stronger mobilization of supporters”

In addition to the election in Baden-Württemberg, the situation in Iran and the Middle East was also discussed. “Tehran is on fire,” said Iran expert Azadeh Zamirirad, concerned: “It has something apocalyptic about it. There is a lot of fear.”

Meanwhile, security expert Nico Lange concluded: “This is now a big war, where one side is still trying very hard to operate with the old concept of military superiority and the other side is basically asymmetrically relying on drones, small boats and lots of missiles.” In this context, Lanz asked Zamirirad whether military pressure could ultimately strengthen the regime.

The political scientist initially said: “I saw the first signs of erosion in the support base in the protests in January. Nothing in this country actually worked anymore – even from the perspective of the supporters of this system.” Now, after these attacks, we see “more of a stronger mobilization of supporters,” triggered “precisely by the killing of Khamenei.” He couldn’t have done better “from the perspective of this system. He met a martyr’s death from the perspective of his followers.”

Finally, Lanz wanted to know: “What is the worst scenario?” Zamirirad answered clearly: There will be “a massive arms spiral” – and “we will probably see more incentive for a nuclear arms race.”