Christian Lindner provokes the SPD – and receives headwinds

FDP leader Christian Lindner accuses the former coalition partner SPD of seeking to “destruct” his party. The former Federal Finance Minister, who was fired by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, told the “Handelsblatt” that the SPD was following an “ice-cold tactical calculation.”

On the one hand, Olaf Scholz’s party wants to distract attention from its lack of concept in view of the economic situation. “On the other hand, the SPD is interested in destroying the FDP, because a strong FDP in the Bundestag automatically reduces the risk of the SPD or Greens participating in the next federal government.” His dismissal should “probably be part of the election campaign,” says Lindner.

The SPD doesn’t want to leave it like this. “Christian Lindner has betrayed the entire country,” says Parliamentary Secretary Katja Mast. “His FDP script for getting out of responsibility not only lacks respect for the country, but shows that he still hasn’t understood it.” The SPD is interested in clever growth impulses for the work of the future – for him it is about clientel politics and political games. “This is nothing but irresponsible.”

After reports that the FDP had been working for weeks to break the alliance with the SPD and the Greens, Lindner now explains: “It was foreseeable for some time that there were different assessments of the challenges and their solutions in the coalition. We therefore considered scenarios.” The FDP leader continued: “Without a realignment of politics, the coalition would have had to be ended.”

In view of the economic crisis, he only had Germany’s well-being in mind: “Do I have to justify the fact that the SPD and the Greens see a solution to the problem as a provocation?” asks the former finance minister rhetorically. “My impression is that voters feel liberated by the traffic light coalition.”

Lindner confirms that his party would agree to the traffic light law to reduce the cold progression in the Bundestag despite the coalition break. “I’m just curious to see whether there will actually be a vote,” says the FDP leader. At the same time, he rules out a new edition of the traffic light coalition. Lindner also makes it clear once again that the FDP will not agree to any coalition agreement that provides for a reform of the debt brake.