End of the traffic light coalition: FDP publishes “D-Day” paper – ex-traffic light partner outraged

The publication of a detailed paper by the FDP on the exit from the traffic light government caused outrage among the former coalition partners. SPD General Secretary Matthias Miersch accused the FDP leadership of repeatedly deceiving the public and demanded an apology from party leader Christian Lindner.

Miersch criticized the Editorial Network Germany (RND) as “cynical” that the FDP used the word “D-Day” in the paper to describe the time of the traffic light break and described the subsequent election campaign as an “open field battle”. “The FDP leadership has always denied the use of these terms,” he emphasized.

FDP writes about “D-Day” and “field battle”

The phrase D-Day appears several times in the paper. In an interview with RTL/ntv on November 18, FDP General Secretary Bijan Djir-Sarai emphasized: “That’s not true. This term was not used.”

From English, D-Day can be translated as “Day X” – or also mean “Day of Decision”. In German, the English term is used primarily in connection with the landing of the Allies in Normandy to liberate Europe from National Socialism. D-Day on June 6, 1944 marked the start. But it also represents inhumane bloodshed, tens of thousands of dead and wounded. At that time, the Allied forces mainly included Americans, British, Canadians, Poles and French.

Djir-Sarai tried to limit the damage in the “Welt” after the paper was published: “The paper was created at the employee level. Nobody from the leadership of the FDP knew about the paper.” He doesn’t see any reason to resign.

FDP has “nothing to hide”

The FDP previously wrote on X: “We have nothing to hide.” In a statement published by Djir-Sarai it said: “We have never made a secret of the fact that without an economic turnaround, an end to the traffic lights could be a possible outcome of what we call the autumn of decisions.” He spoke of a scandalization of the preparation for scenarios. “If the entire German media landscape was already speculating about the end of the traffic lights at this point, then it is only professional to prepare for this option.”

SPD leader Lars Klingbeil wrote on Platform X: “It’s good that everything is slowly coming out and citizens can get an idea.” Green parliamentary group leader Britta Haßelmann also criticized

Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck (Greens) made a brief statement: “My oath of office was to devote my energy to the good of the people – and not to the good of a party.”

The FDP itself published its paper on possible exit scenarios from the traffic light coalition after the news portal “Table.Briefings” reported on it. The eight-page document – obviously a Powerpoint presentation – is titled “D-Day Process Scenarios and Measures”.

On the evening of publication, the first self-critical tones came from the FDP: “Now all that is required is self-criticism and processing,” said FDP executive committee member Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann of the German Press Agency. “The choice of words does not serve the purpose, writing with this tonality is incomprehensible.” But it was logical to deal with exit scenarios in a situation like the one in the government, and not just for the FDP. However, she was not present at the relevant meeting.

After the traffic light went out, the first reports had already sparked discussions about the causes and reasons behind the coalition break. “Zeit” and “Süddeutsche Zeitung” reported that in several meetings of the closest FDP leadership since the end of September, scenarios for an end to the coalition had been played out – there was talk of a “script”.

Discussion about the “ideal time” to leave the coalition

In the paper that has now been published, for example, it is said that the “ideal time” and an “intended exit” from the coalition could be between November 4th and 10th in the middle of the 45th calendar week. On November 6th, the alliance actually broke – but when Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) dismissed FDP leader Lindner as finance minister at a meeting of the coalition committee.

The paper had previously weighed up the following: The “announced exit” at this point in time entailed risks due to the US presidential election taking place at the same time. In order to “decouple a little” from this, an exit could take place at the beginning of the 45th calendar week on November 4th. In the event of a postponement, other obstacles are cited: the budget committee’s adjustment meeting, the planned Green party conference and a separate party conference that would have to be prepared and invited to.

A “core narrative” is also recorded – i.e. a main message with which the exit could be linked. Fundamental differences in economic policy between red-green and the FDP cannot be bridged through compromises. The federal government itself has become the biggest location risk. “The German population should decide in early elections which path Germany will take in the future,” it continues. A prepared statement from Lindner is also included and scenarios as to when, where and through which channels the traffic light break could best be announced.

FDP speaks of “working paper”

The FDP describes the document as a “working paper”, which was drawn up for the first time by the party’s federal manager on October 24th, and has now been published in the latest version on November 5th. “This technical paper was not the subject of political advice from elected officials and members of the government, but rather a purely internal preparation for the scenario of the FDP leaving the traffic light coalition,” it says.

A battle is already raging, especially between the SPD and FDP, over the authority to interpret the extent to which the rift was provoked by one side. Lindner spoke of a “dismissal staging” by the Chancellor. Scholz made it clear that he might have had to make the decision to fire Lindner earlier.