Alliance 90/The Greens
A clear guide to Alliance 90/The Greens (Greens) in Germany: its history, green politics ideology, leadership, and where it stands on the economy, social issues, and foreign policy.
Overview
- Country
- Germany
- Founded
- 1993 (merger; West German Greens 1980)
- Position
- Centre-left
- Leader
- Felix Banaszak and Franziska Brantner
- Headquarters
- Berlin
Alliance 90/The Greens is Germany's main environmentalist party. It sits in opposition after leaving government with the collapse of the traffic light coalition in 2024. The party is led by Felix Banaszak and Franziska Brantner, and its Bundestag group by Katharina Dröge and Britta Haßelmann.
History
The West German Greens were founded in 1980 from the environmental, anti-nuclear and peace movements, entering the Bundestag in 1983. They merged with the East German civil rights movement Alliance 90 in 1993.
The party first governed nationally with the SPD from 1998 to 2005, when Joschka Fischer was foreign minister and Germany decided to phase out nuclear power. It returned to government in 2021, with Robert Habeck as economy minister and Annalena Baerbock as foreign minister.
Economic Policy
The Greens favour rapid expansion of renewable energy, carbon pricing with social compensation, public investment and reform of the debt brake. In government they led the response to the 2022 energy crisis.
Foreign Policy
The Greens have become among the strongest supporters of military aid to Ukraine and a tougher line on Russia and China, and they are firmly pro-European.
Where They Stand
- Aims for climate neutrality with rapid growth in renewables
- Supports carbon pricing with a per-person climate payment
- Strongly supports military aid to Ukraine
- Backed same-sex marriage and the gender self-determination law
- Favours reform of the debt brake for public investment
Electoral Record
The Greens won a record 14.8 percent in 2021 and 11.6 percent and 85 seats in 2025.
Position on the Political Compass
Alliance 90/The Greens sits on the left-leaning side on economics and is more libertarian on questions of social freedom and authority.
These positions are approximate and meant as a guide. Take the test to see how your own views compare.
Key Figures
Joschka Fischer
Foreign Minister, 1998 to 2005
The party's first federal minister and its best-known figure for decades.
Robert Habeck
Vice-Chancellor, 2021 to 2025
Economy and climate minister and the party's 2025 chancellor candidate.
Annalena Baerbock
Foreign Minister, 2021 to 2025
Germany's first female foreign minister.
Sources and Further Reading
- Alliance 90/The Greens (Wikipedia)en.wikipedia.org
- Official party websitegruene.de
Where do you stand?
Take the CoreOpinion Germany political test to see how your views compare with Alliance 90/The Greens and the other parties.
Take the Germany Test
Social Policy
The party is socially liberal and was a driving force behind same-sex marriage, the 2024 self-determination law on gender and the partial legalisation of cannabis.