German Greens show the way

The surge in support for the German Greens is an endorsement of the way in which green policies can be integrated into a stable coalition government, Green Party Co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons said today.

"It appears the German electorate has rewarded the Greens for their contribution to four years of popular, innovative government by returning the centre-left coalition to power and greatly increasing the number of Green MPs in the federal parliament.

The Greens appear to have won almost 9 per cent of the party vote, compared with 6.69% in 1998.

"The Greens have kept their 'senior' coalition partner, Gerhard Schroeder's SDP, honest," said Jeanette Fitzsimons. "They've championed policies of social justice and environmental sustainability and introduced major legislation to develop renewable energy sources, increase food safety and improve the lives of children, all issues on which the New Zealand Greens campaigned at the last election.

"The German Greens are playing a significant role in strengthening European democracy and restraining the worst attempts to embroil their country in foreign wars, while their three cabinet ministers are acknowledged as amongst the most popular and hardworking politicians in the country.

"They have proved that green policies are not fringe, impractical or anti-business," Jeanette Fitzsimons said. "They are the success story of German politics and a model for how Green parties around the world can contribute at the highest level."

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