Recent criticism from Katharina Stolla, the spokesperson for the Grüne Jugend (Green Youth), has shed light on the disconnect between the Green Party and young people in Germany. According to a trend study on the political attitudes of young people in Germany, the Greens are receiving less support from 14 to 29-year-olds compared to the AfD and CDU. Stolla attributes this to the way the coalition government has handled crises.
Stolla, in response to the study, pointed out that many young people feel unseen and unrepresented by the Greens. She criticized the coalition government for not taking the concrete concerns of young people seriously and failing to find solutions to address them. The study, conducted by youth researcher Simon Schnetzer, revealed that the AfD is now the most popular party among 14 to 29-year-olds, with 22% support, surpassing the Greens who now lag behind the Union at 18%.
Stolla highlighted that many young people are struggling with issues such as inflation and rising rents, and criticized the government for not adequately addressing these crises, which has only increased the sense of crisis among young people. She emphasized the need for tangible improvements in people’s lives as a response to the study and the rightward shift in political attitudes. This includes the importance of making positive changes in people’s lives in relation to climate protection, rather than simply cutting back on environmentally harmful subsidies without providing alternatives.
In response to the suggestion that politicians should increase their presence on platforms like TikTok and other social media, Stolla emphasized that while this may be beneficial, what young people truly desire is better policies and political action. She stressed the importance of focusing on substantive policy changes that have a real impact on people’s lives, rather than simply trying to appeal to young people through social media stardom.
Stolla’s criticism serves as a wake-up call for the Green Party and the coalition government to reevaluate their approach to addressing the concerns of young people in Germany. The need for meaningful policy changes that address the challenges faced by young people, such as economic security, affordable housing, and climate action, is more pressing than ever. It is clear that the Greens must take steps to reconnect with younger voters and demonstrate a genuine commitment to improving their lives through concrete policy measures.
