Who is Felix Banaszak?
Felix Banaszak was born in Duisburg in 1989 and studied social and cultural anthropology and political science at the Free University of Berlin. He sat on the federal board of the Green Youth from 2011 to 2014 and co-chaired the Greens in North Rhine-Westphalia from 2018 to 2022. He entered the Bundestag in 2021. In November 2024 he and Franziska Brantner were elected party co-chairs, succeeding Omid Nouripour and Ricarda Lang. Since the 2025 election the Greens have been in opposition.
Previously: Member of the Bundestag (since 2021) · Co-chair of the Greens in North Rhine-Westphalia (2018-2022) · Member of the Green Youth federal board (2011-2014)
Documented positions
- Said in May 2026 that any cuts should start with higher earners, backed a quick cut in electricity tax and called for pension reform that stabilises the statutory system.Source: zdfheute.de
- Argued in August 2026 that high electricity prices are not caused by the energy transition and proposed converting empty offices into housing.Source: zdfheute.de
- Urged the CDU in August 2026 to reconsider its ban on cooperation with Die Linke, calling for a broad alliance of democratic parties against anti-democratic forces.Source: zdfheute.de
- Voted in July 2026 for a Greens motion to expand military and humanitarian support for Ukraine.Source: abgeordnetenwatch.de
- Voted in July 2026 for a Greens bill for a 130 km/h motorway speed limit.Source: abgeordnetenwatch.de
- Voted in June 2025 against suspending family reunification for refugees with subsidiary protection.Source: abgeordnetenwatch.de
- Voted in October 2025 against abolishing the fast-track naturalisation route after three years of residence.Source: abgeordnetenwatch.de
- Voted in December 2025 against both the military service law and the coalition's pension package.Source: abgeordnetenwatch.de
Record
Banaszak and Brantner took over after the previous leadership resigned in 2024 and led the Greens through the 2025 election into opposition. In March 2025 the Greens supplied the votes for the debt brake reform after securing 100 billion euros of the infrastructure fund for climate spending. Banaszak has also opened a regional office in Brandenburg an der Havel to rebuild support in eastern Germany.
Supporters cite his focus on climate policy and social fairness. His repeated criticism of Die Linke has drawn objections from younger party members. Speaking at the Green Youth congress in Leipzig in October 2026, after the Berlin election, he called for clear agreements on antisemitism and the stance on Israel before any SPD, Greens and Linke coalition in Berlin.
In their words
“dann fängt man oben an und nicht unten”
