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With his controversial remarks at the weekend, Tübingen's mayor Boris Palmer did not want to catch any attention in his own words.

“No, that was not a calculation, nor a provocation for the public,” wrote the 48-year-old on Monday morning on Facebook.

“I had no idea what earthquake I was going to trigger again.” He wanted to make it clear to one of his “longstanding internal party opponents” how absurd he found his “constructed accusations of racism”.

Compared to “Bild” he admitted: “Of course it would have been wiser not to post it at all”. He defends himself "against exclusion and denunciation". For him, the reaction of the Greens shows that parts of the party's political leadership have committed themselves to left-wing identity politics. His case is a "prime example of cancel culture". In his opinion, however, the problem does not exist in general with the Greens, it is rather a "problem at the level of the functionaries". Therefore, he is also sure that the arbitral tribunal will acquit him.

The Greens accuse their party colleague of racism because of a testimony about former national soccer player Dennis Aogo, who has a Nigerian father, and want to throw him out of the party.

On the other hand, Palmer, who used the N-word, says it was satire.

The state party congress in Baden-Württemberg had voted for an exclusion procedure against Palmer on Saturday.

"It was kind of educational satire," wrote Palmer on Monday.

But he should have thought what would be made of it.

Baerbock act "in chancellor costume"

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Political scientist Nils Diederich believes that the Palmer debate will not harm the Greens in the federal elections.

"The matter will then be forgotten," said the party researcher (FU Berlin), among other things, the "Südwest Presse" and the "Schwäbische Zeitung".

"Unless, of course, the whole story continues until shortly before election day."

The case is a "stress test" for the party, said Diederich.

"This is also normal for parties that expand their spectrum: They have to deal with a broader front." It is very difficult for the Greens to keep someone in the party after making such statements.

And right now, with the polls rising, the party wants to avoid anything that could be harmful, the researcher said.

"But it would be better to say: My dear Palmer, it doesn't work that way, you have to take it back," he explained.

"Content dispute instead of administrative hammer".

Diederich assessed the fact that party leader and Chancellor candidate Annalena Baerbock had to a certain extent announced the exclusion procedure via Twitter on Saturday: "She put on her chancellor's costume, so to speak, and acted according to the motto: If someone deviates from my line, it will harm me."

Baerbock had clearly put on announcement in her new role.

"And that is: I am the one in front - and the others should follow me", explained the scientist and commented: "It is almost symbolic: The Greens will be a perfectly normal party."