Barbara is confident that the Greens' successes are not just a flash in

Barbara is confident that the Greens' successes are not just a flash in the pan. As they take greater responsibility, their contradictions will, no doubt, become more apparent. But the huge controversy in Germany over Shell's Brent Spar oil rig is a reminder of just how important environmental issues are for Germans. Robert talks of the "emphasis on individualism and non-conformism" as one explanation for the success of the party which almost vanished from the political landscape at the time of the euphoria over German unity in 1990, before being reborn in the past two years.For the moment, the Greens can bask in their new popularity. Without them, neither the CDU nor the SPD would have moved so much." The party - anti-hierarchical and anti- militaristic - is especially successful with female and young voters. In recent months, the Greens have made efforts to woo businessmen; each convert is publicly presented as a great triumph.Franz Klaas , the CDU die-hard, admits: "They've brought the subject of the environment forward a lot.

They are committed to massive state subsidies for job creation, and there is talk of tough action to reduce the powers of the banks. Some observers believe that the Greens' anti-big business policies may quickly be jettisoned if the party gets within sight of power. Officially, the party is in favour of a standard 30-hour week, and would prohibit anything more than 40 hours a week. The head of the German equivalent of the CBI complained this week, with reference to the growing power of the Greens, that a part Green coalition in Bonn would send a "catastrophic signal" about the economy. I can't imagine the Greens holding power alone - I wouldn't want that."Certainly, scepticism about Green economic policies is widespread. But many of the Greens' most radical proposals - for example, the abolition of Nato - now seem little more than decoration.

Even Green supporters sound sceptical about the official policies. Regarding the Greens' ideas on defence and economics, Barbara says: "They're often quite naive. Franz Klaas, 55, whilst remaining loyal to the CDU, says that he can "certainly imagine" a future coalition between his party and the Greens. Senior Greens in Bonn suggest mischievously that it would be in the CDU's interest in North Rhine-Westphalia to "make us an attractive offer" - in order to snatch power from the Social Democrats altogether, and create a CDU-Green coalition. The suggestion is whimsical - but not entirely frivolous.Until recently, the CDU appeared to write off the Greens as a bunch of crazies who would endanger stability if they were ever to get into power. Many believe that an SPD-Green coalition in North Rhine-Westphalia would be a dress rehearsal for Bonn.Meanwhile, if the Greens continue to steal votes from the FDP, Mr Kohl, the German Chancellor, will no longer have a coalition partner to do business with.