Bündnis 90/Die Grünen (Alliance 90/The Greens)
EU RANK: 4 (Tier 1: Top Performance)
Bündnis 90/Die Grünen is a green, socially liberal and pro‑European party prioritising climate action, civil liberties and social justice. After serving in the 2021–2025 “traffic‑light” coalition, the Greens moved into opposition following the 2025 federal election, where they won about 11.6% of the vote and 85 seats. They remain a key national actor on environmental and rights‑based policy even outside government.
Disinformation and alternative media
The Greens rely on mainstream media, party channels and social media to communicate, without owning significant alternative or partisan news outlets. Research on Germany’s disinformation landscape shows the party is frequently a target of climate‑sceptic and far‑right online ecosystems that frame it as authoritarian or “eco‑radical”, rather than a source of coordinated disinformation itself. The party’s communication strategy emphasises expert evidence, climate science and fact‑checking in collaboration with civil society. Disinformation/alternative media DMI risk is low.
Foreign influence and external alignments
The Greens are strongly pro‑EU and pro‑NATO and have taken some of the toughest parliamentary positions on sanctions against Russia and support for Ukraine, including weapons deliveries and energy diversification. No evidence from litigation or investigative reporting links the party to funding or organisational ties from hostile foreign governments or oligarchic networks. Their foreign‑policy profile is built around human rights, multilateralism and reducing dependence on authoritarian regimes. Foreign influence DMI risk is low.
Media capture, advertising and public service media
Bündnis 90/Die Grünen do not control major commercial media companies and operate mainly through standard advertising buys and public campaigning. In federal and state debates they consistently advocate strong legal and financial independence for public‑service broadcasters (ARD/ZDF/Deutschlandfunk) and transparency in media ownership and platform regulation. Studies of party–media ties do not show attempts by the Greens to steer public broadcasters’ governance or state advertising for partisan advantage. Media capture, advertising and PSB‑control DMI risk is low.
Corruption, litigation and institutional integrity
Review of court cases and investigations from 2015–2025 reveals no major, systemic corruption scandals focused on the Greens’ federal leadership or central party structures. Funding analyses show the party relies on public subsidies and relatively transparent small donations, with no dominant oligarchic patrons and compliance with disclosure rules overseen by the Bundestag administration and the Federal Court of Audit. Occasional local controversies have not escalated into large‑scale integrity crises. DMI corruption and institutional integrity risk is low.
Press freedom, harassment and treatment of media
The Greens repeatedly defend press freedom, whistle‑blower protections and safeguards for investigative journalism in legislative debates. While party figures sometimes criticise coverage they see as sensationalist or climate‑sceptic, there is no pattern of delegitimising journalists, organising harassment, or threatening public or private media with punitive measures. The party also supports measures against online hate targeting reporters, aligning itself with media‑freedom NGOs. Press freedom and harassment DMI risk is low.
| Dimension | Risk level | Short justification |
|---|---|---|
| Disinformation & alternative media | Low | Uses mainstream and party channels; often a target of far‑right and climate‑sceptic disinfo rather than a source; no alt‑media ownership. |
| Foreign influence & external alignments | Low | Strongly pro‑EU/NATO, hawkish on Russia; no evidence of funding or organisational ties from hostile foreign states. |
| Media capture & advertising / PSB control | Low | No major media assets; supports independent ARD/ZDF and transparent media governance; no signs of partisan use of state advertising. |
| Corruption & institutional integrity risk | Low | No major systemic corruption cases involving federal leadership; diversified, transparent funding and compliance with reporting rules. |
| Press freedom & harassment of media | Low | Consistently backs media‑freedom protections; no pattern of harassment or punitive pressure on journalists or broadcasters. |