I’m delighted to hear that Cem Özdemir is the new co-leader of the German Greens. I’ve known him since shortly after he was elected to the European Parliament in 2004, mainly (but not exclusively) on the Cyprus issue where he has played a subtly constructive role in unpropitious circumstances. I have no idea about the wider ramifications of his election in German politics, but it’s not a bad thing for the perception of diversity in the political leadership of western Europe’s largest democracy.