Mrs. Heinrich, Mr. Janus, the Green Party is expected to return to the government in 16 years. Will the role of the green youth as the spokesperson of the new federation change?
Heinrich: We are an independent opposition youth association, and we set the topic ourselves. Nothing will change. Even so, our role is changing. In recent years, Green Youth has become a relevant participant. With the new positions of the Green Party, we are also very concerned. In recent years, we have developed rapidly, and now 27 members have entered the Bundestag.
Do you want to influence these parliamentarians?
Heinrich: We have a common goal, but the roles are different. They are of course independent, but we are in close contact with them and we work together for a just future.
Dzienus: We see ourselves as a bond with civil society. This continues to apply. We want to bring street protests not only into the parliament, but also into the government.
Heinrich: Green youth want to participate and work constructively to ensure that there is a federal government that improves people’s lives. We now have nearly 20,000 members, and this number has doubled in the past three years. This increases our influence.
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How do you understand your mission as the head of green youth?
Dzienus: The tasks are very diverse. On the one hand, we will interfere in day-to-day politics, just as we are currently doing in alliance negotiations. We never tire of calling on our demands for fair politics. In addition, education is very important to us. As a complete association, we hope to continuously develop a comprehensive social analysis and use it as the basis of our political position and practice.
Social analysis? This sounds very technical.
Heinrich: Our society has experienced many injustices. We have experienced racism and gender discrimination, but we have also experienced poverty and unfair working conditions. Many people come to Green Youth because they want to do something for these injustices. For example, in my case, I thought for a long time that my mother and I should be responsible for our poverty. This is my own fault. At some point I understood: that is not true. So many people have to live in poverty. This is a political issue. We can solve these problems together. This is what it means: self-empowerment.
What does that mean to you, poverty?
Heinrich: To me, poverty means insecurity. I don’t know what will happen next month. What should I do if the washing machine is broken? I don’t know if the money is enough. My mother tried to protect me from the whole thing. I have been working hard to earn at least 100 Euros without being taken away. I don’t know if I will get rid of poverty, I am afraid.
Doesn’t your example show that you can be promoted in Germany?
