NEWS OF THE GREEN PARTY

Has the Green dream wilted?
By Sam Wilson - BBC News.

Europe's most famous Green politician is no longer in office. Only half a decade ago the future of Europe looked greener than ever before. Green parties were part of the governments of five European countries, pushing the environment closer to the forefront of policy-making.
"Some had the impression that a luminous sunflower was hanging in the grey sky," wrote Juan Behrend,
the former secretary general of the Green federation in the European parliament. But that era is now over.
With the cementing of a grand coalition in Germany this week, Greens have lost their last toehold in western European government, and their most recognisable figure, former German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer,
is out of office.
And this at a time, says Mr Behrend, when "the current climate is asking for Green politics". Having been ejected from government in Finland, France, Italy, Belgium and now Germany, it would be no surprise if the Greens' optimism, like the imaginary sunflower, had wilted.

BBC NEWS REPORT.