Green Party Leader Brantner Campaigns in Trier, Discusses Social Media Regulation and Education
Trier, Germany – Dr. Franziska Brantner, federal co-chair of the German Green Party, spent a day in Trier on March 20, 2026, supporting the party’s local candidates in the lead-up to the state elections. She joined Trier’s direct candidate and state chairwoman, Natalie Cramme-Hill, and Green spokesperson Philipp Anton in a campaign focused on direct engagement with voters.
Campaign Trail: From Brunch to Pubs
The campaign included a brunch at Café Liebling, door-to-door canvassing in Trier-Kürenz, and an evening pub crawl. A key stop was the newly opened wine stand on Trier’s main market, where Brantner and Mainz State Secretary Michael Hauer aimed to connect with residents.
Challenges in Engaging Voters
Despite a campaign presence and the support of around 50-60 party members and Trier Bundestag member Corinna Rüffer, Brantner found it challenging to initiate conversations with casual visitors at the wine stand. She noted that approaching people directly wasn’t her preferred method, but she would engage those who made eye contact and showed willingness to talk.
Social Media Debate with Young Voters
Brantner encountered two 18-year-traditional students at the main market who were specifically interested in speaking with her. The conversation turned to social media regulation, with Brantner stating her support for banning TikTok and Instagram for users under 14. She acknowledged that a ban could be circumvented, but argued it would have a long-term impact, contingent on providers implementing functional identity checks.
Brantner emphasized the need for stricter enforcement of existing laws regarding age-appropriate content, stating that while content approval for 14-year-olds already exists, it requires more rigorous control.
Education Policy and State Election Outlook
The discussion as well touched upon education policy, a frequent topic raised with Brantner in Rhineland-Palatinate. She addressed the differing approaches between Rhineland-Palatinate and Baden-Württemberg regarding mandatory final year of daycare, explaining that the Greens in Rhineland-Palatinate are prioritizing improved overall daycare quality and staffing levels.
Cramme-Hill expressed optimism about the upcoming state elections on March 22nd, hoping to replicate the party’s 2021 result of 9.3 percent of the second votes. Current polls suggest the Greens are at eight to nine percent, potentially securing Cramme-Hill a seat in the state parliament.
Political Landscape in Rhineland-Palatinate
Polls currently indicate that the SPD is leading with 27/28 percent, while the FDP is projected to fall below the five percent threshold. This suggests the current traffic light coalition in Mainz is unlikely to continue. Cramme-Hill emphasized that the Greens are focused on advocating for their own goals of climate action and democracy, regardless of the coalition dynamics.