The Greens have won 15% of the vote in the parliamentary elections. The environmentalist party will probably be part of the next government, but the Greens' dream of taking the chancellorship is over for now.
The Greens have long warned of the extreme weather effects of climate change. Now they propose a program to prevent a recurrence of July's flood disaster.
With more than 160 dead across the region, the receding waters revealed extensive damage as well as deep political divides around how far and fast Germans should go to stem carbon use.
Annalena Baerbock, the first Green candidate to have a significant shot at becoming chancellor, will run against Armin Laschet, head of Germany’s largest conservative party.
