He has been hailed by supporters as Germany’s answer to Barack Obama. But Cem Ozdemir, the new Green party co-leader, plays down the comparison.

The comparison has been drawn because Mr Ozdemir is the first leader of a German political party to be born of immigrant parents. Arriving alone for a meeting with the Financial Times, dragging his wheelie suitcase, he certainly lacks the entourage one might expect of a German Obama.