First migrant-background premier for Baden-Württemberg in Germany
Jem Özdemir, the son of Turkish migrants, is set to become the premier of Baden-Württemberg, one of Germany’s largest and economically strongest states. This milestone highlights the growing integration and multicultural representation within German political leadership.
Özdemir is a prominent critic of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and has faced frequent threats due to his outspoken views. In 2016, he played an active role in Germany’s official recognition of the Armenian Genocide. He has also been a consistent supporter of Ukraine and a vocal critic of authoritarian regimes in Russia. Following the March 8, 2023 elections, his party, the Greens, in coalition with the CDU, earned the mandate to form the state government.
This coalition is expected to bring fresh political dynamics to one of Germany’s most influential states and strengthen reform-oriented forces within the federal political landscape.
