Green party conference continues with debates on foreign policy and arms exports
Protests and search for solution – Greens discuss future nuclear power course
At the federal party conference in Bonn, the Greens want to set their course on nuclear power. While opponents of nuclear power in the green party base went on the barricades, business representatives are demanding an extension of the service life.
Participation in government and crises have dampened the Greens’ belligerence. Even the difficult decision on nuclear power went through the night without angry speeches. Will that also be the case with arms exports?
AAt the Green party conference in Bonn, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock defended arms deliveries to Ukraine. “We supply arms to Ukraine (…) BECAUSE we are a peace and human rights party,” she said. “We support people in defending their lives.” Blame for the war lies solely with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Dilematta also brings responsibility, said Baerbock. The Greens had already dealt with these dilemmas in their basic program. One of these “difficult dilemmas” was the issue of arms exports. “The first sentence of our basic program says: The focus of our policy is on people in their dignity and freedom. That is our benchmark,” emphasized Baerbock. It is therefore also clear: “There are no arms deliveries to Saudi Arabia, where human rights are trampled underfoot.” She campaigned for the Arms Export Control Act.
At the same time, Baerbock warned against attempts to divide society, especially when it comes to migration. She called on the opposition to take a stand. “It’s not the case that you have to play off refugees against the war in Ukraine in winter,” said Baerbock.
The federal government recently made an exception to the export ban on equipment to Saudi Arabia due to a joint project with Italy, Spain and Great Britain. The following passage was finally included in the motion of the party executive: “The government of Saudi Arabia commits demonstrable massive violations of human rights and is a war party in the Yemen war. That is why we reject any arms exports to Saudi Arabia.”
A European ban on arms exports for Saudi Arabia “and a European arms embargo on other states as long as they can be shown to be directly involved in the Yemen war” are also being sought.
The focus of the second part of the party congress was foreign and security policy. As a guest speaker, the co-founder of the Russian human rights organization Memorial, Irina Scherbakowa, spoke to the 800 delegates. Applications concerned the largely undisputed arms deliveries to Ukraine. The party also wanted to reaffirm its no to arms exports to Saudi Arabia.
On Friday evening, the Greens had positioned themselves on the nuclear phase-out. With a clear majority, the party congress approved the extended operation of two nuclear power plants until April 15, 2023 at the latest, thereby strengthening the support of Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck. The procurement of new fuel elements required by the FDP for longer continued operation of the nuclear power stations is expressly excluded. At the party congress, a motion to finally switch off all nuclear power plants by December 31st was not successful.
The Greens are meeting again for the first time in three years. At the end of the party conference on Sunday, the topic of climate protection is on the agenda.
