Traffic light off: FDP boss wants to continue – video message and allegations

FDP leader Christian Lindner is trying to calm the hustle and bustle surrounding the “D-Day” paper and the exit from traffic lights in his party with a communications offensive. In a video article published on Platform He accused his political opponents – most likely the former coalition partners SPD and Greens – of using the FDP’s mistakes to destroy the Liberals’ credibility or to raise a “question of character”. Lindner continues to refuse to resign – he wants to be the top candidate in the federal election in February.

Lindner sees himself in the “hail shower”

In the ARD program “Caren Miosga” he said in response to a question about resignation: “I have no intention, no. And I have the intention to apply to my party as the top candidate.” The FDP was not prepared to continue to support the traffic light policy due to its conviction. With this content he wants to appear before the citizens in the federal election on February 23rd. “Now I’m going through this hailstorm with hailstones the size of my fist. But I’m doing that because I believe in something and would like to know whether the citizens will support it,” said Lindner.

New Secretary General is introduced

The FDP is deep in crisis: The FDP’s “D-Day” paper became known on Thursday. In it, the possible exit of the party from the government with the SPD and the Greens is described and played out in military terms – in addition to “D-Day” there is also talk of “open field battle”. The paper also sparked strong criticism within the party. Secretary General Bijan Djir-Sarai resigned on Friday. His successor, the former Federal Minister of Justice Marco Buschmann, is to be introduced this Monday.

Linder finds D-Day paper “not professional”

Lindner said at “Miosga” about the “D-Day” paper: “I didn’t know this paper.” But he has no problem with the fact that it was created. The FDP has looked intensively at all options: continuing, orderly new elections or leaving the traffic lights. In a party office, “dozens” of documents are created every day. However, the paper in question is “not professional” and its structure and style are not such that one can approve it. “I cannot take any specific responsibility for the word “D-Day” and this paper because it is not in my area,” said the party leader. “But I take responsibility for the fact that the FDP was ready to leave the traffic lights and that we prepared for it.”

Horror in the FDP about the paper

Former Federal Justice Minister Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger sees her party’s credibility as “severely damaged.” The “D-Day” paper also caused great outrage within the FDP. “We have a self-inflicted, difficult crisis here,” she told “Table.Briefings.” Given the disappointment and anger at the base, the party needs “clear signs and statements of encouragement” before the election campaign. However, according to “Table.Briefings”, she did not call for Lindner’s resignation.

The FDP has to worry about returning to the Bundestag in the federal election. It threatens to fail at the five percent hurdle. The party is currently at 3 to 5 percent in the polls. Lindner said in his video on “Don’t base your decision on the past, but rather on what you think is right for your future,” he said.