After weeks of tough negotiations, the Green Party and the CDU have reached a coalition agreement to govern Baden-Württemberg. Lead negotiators Cem Özdemir (Greens) and Manuel Hagel (CDU) described the pact as more than a minimal compromise, calling it a “reform coalition.”
Outgoing premier Winfried Kretschmann, who has led the state since 2011, will be succeeded by Cem Özdemir. The agreement is due to be presented next week, followed by party approval and Özdemir’s planned election as state premier on May 13.
Ministry allocations have been settled in broad terms: the CDU, as the junior partner, will take key portfolios including the interior, economy and transport ministries, while the Greens will hold finance, social affairs, environment and housing. Some personnel questions remain unresolved, notably whether CDU state head Manuel Hagel will become interior minister.
The alliance, nicknamed the “pizza coalition” because young members once met informally in a pizzeria, has governed together since 2016. The March 8 election left both parties evenly matched with 56 seats apiece, a tie that complicated and prolonged the talks.
Özdemir, who would become Germany’s first state premier of Turkish heritage, said the coalition will not simply divide responsibilities along party lines. He emphasized a shared agenda centered on security, climate policy and economic strength, promising to combine climate protection with economic growth while easing burdens on businesses.
Hagel stressed the need for practical results rather than headlines, naming education and equal opportunity among the government’s priorities. Both parties framed the deal as pragmatic and reform-oriented, aiming to balance environmental goals with economic competitiveness and public safety.