Palmer: "Can empathize with the soul of the CDU" - Green Party scandal shakes Baden-Württemberg's election and coalition talks
A controversial video of Green Party politician Manuel Hagel has sparked a political row in Baden-Württemberg. The clip, released just before the state election, shows Hagel making comments that critics called sexist. The CDU accused the Greens of running a 'dirty campaign', while the party now faces the task of rebuilding trust to form a coalition government.
The video surfaced nearly two weeks before the election, quickly going viral. It featured Manuel Hagel, then 29, complimenting a schoolgirl's 'doe-like brown eyes'—remarks that drew accusations of sexism. CDU Secretary-General Tobias Vogt condemned the Greens for what he described as a 'dirty campaign', escalating tensions days before voting began.
Despite the controversy, the Greens narrowly won the state election. Cem Özdemir is now set to replace Winfried Kretschmann as minister-president. Hagel took responsibility for the election's close result, where his party led by a slim margin.
Former Green Party member Boris Palmer acknowledged the CDU's outrage but dismissed claims of a coordinated smear effort. He argued that independent lawmakers, not the party, released the video. Palmer also criticised the CDU's scepticism, suggesting it reflected their party culture—implying they assumed no CDU member would act similarly.
With coalition talks underway, Palmer stressed that trust-building must be the top priority for the election winners.
The Greens now need to repair relations with the CDU to secure a stable government in Baden-Württemberg. The fallout from the video has added pressure to ongoing coalition discussions. Both sides must navigate the dispute as they consider future governance options.
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