Greens pick new leaders Tuesday

The European Parliament's Green group votes Tuesday to elect new co-chairs as it seeks to reverse waning influence amid Europe's rightward shift and prepare for the two thousand twenty-nine EU election.

Bas Eickhout's resignation triggered the race

Bas Eickhout resigned in May as leader of the Green group and as an MEP following revelations of undisclosed relationships with staffers. He was one of the best-known MEPs in Brussels and in the Netherlands.

Only open leadership race in the reshuffle

With other group leaders expected to stay in post or with succession deals already struck, the Green vote is likely to be the reshuffle's only open leadership race. The group will pick two co-chairs from four candidates.

Fifty-three lawmakers will decide

The four candidates are working to secure backing from the group's fifty-three lawmakers. The Greens are the sixth-largest group in the European Parliament.

All four back more street activism

All four candidates broadly support a shift from pragmatic dealmaking inside Parliament toward more offensive mobilization, gearing up for the two thousand twenty-nine EU election to reverse heavy losses in two thousand twenty-four.

Terry Reintke: the continuity candidate

Germany's Terry Reintke has helped lead the group since two thousand twenty-two and is widely expected to win one of the two co-chair posts. She says she is quite optimistic and quite confident about her chances.

“I'm quite optimistic, quite confident.”

Reintke balances pragmatism and activism

Reintke believes the Greens can exert influence through pragmatic dealmaking but also wants a more assertive approach. She cites the EU's two thousand forty climate target as an example of a win secured by negotiating with the Commission.

“I think this is going to stay.”

Nicolae Ștefănuță: the grassroots newcomer

Nicolae Ștefănuță joined the Greens in two thousand twenty-three after defecting from the liberals. He ran as an independent in the two thousand twenty-four EU election, gathering more than one hundred thousand signatures and three hundred thousand votes.

Ștefănuță pitches geographic balance

Ștefănuță is playing the geographic-balance card as the group's eastern and southern wings seek more diverse leadership. He promises to give smaller delegations a greater voice and prevent larger national groups from dominating priorities.

“I'm from the East and I've been working with everybody, no matter what the region.”

Isabella Lövin: the former minister

Isabella Lövin served as Sweden's international development minister, environment minister and deputy prime minister between two thousand sixteen and two thousand twenty-one, and was an MEP from two thousand nine to two thousand fourteen.

Lövin offers experience and networks

Lövin is selling experience, reliability and a network she says can help shape EU policy. She expects Terry Reintke to be reelected and says together they can cover many areas and speak to different audiences.

“I have a very extensive network throughout Europe, all colleagues, both green and not green.”

Sara Matthieu: the policy hand

Flemish MEP Sara Matthieu casts herself as both a grassroots campaigner and pragmatic dealmaker with extensive policy expertise. She helped shape the group's green industrial strategy and leads in the Parliament's environment committee.

Matthieu calls for clearer opposition

Matthieu says the Greens must stand their ground and be super clear on issues such as further environmental rollbacks. She also wants the Greens on the streets joining citizens' protests across the EU while staying in dialogue with business leaders and unions.

“We have been the adults in the room, holding the center together while the EPP had no problem relying on far-right majorities.”