Why did the German Green Party form a coalition with the Social Democratic Party in 1998?

In 1998, the Green Party entered a coalition government with the Social Democratic Party (SPD) to assume national political power for the first time. This partnership allowed the Greens to transition from an opposition movement into a governing role, providing a long-awaited opportunity to translate their environmental and social principles into public policy.1

The coalition was led by SPD Chancellor Gerhard Schröder and lasted until 2005. For the Greens, this period of governance was significant but complex; while it enabled them to influence national agendas—such as the government's commitment to phasing out nuclear power—it also forced the party to reconcile its foundational values with the realities of governing.12

Notably, some members, including Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, had to support policies that conflicted with the party's original pacifist stance, such as the deployment of German military forces in Kosovo and Afghanistan. This created internal tension between the party's pragmatic "realist" (Realos) faction and those who viewed such compromises as a betrayal of their core principles.12