Thomas Kemmerich has done a disservice to the FDP by participating in a Corona demo. His withdrawal was inevitable, says Merkur editor-in-chief Georg Anastasiadis.
Liberalism is a demanding, sometimes exhausting mentality: it believes in the responsible citizen and advocates as little government intervention as possible and a maximum of freedom and personal responsibility. The potential for incitement is correspondingly large, especially in Germany, where belief in the all-round protective state is unshakable and labels such as "neoliberal", "anti-social" or "right" are quickly at hand.
The FDP is therefore walking a fine line. As a party of organized liberalism, it must not afford to make any mistakes. This is especially true in the Corona debate, where the call for more civil freedom is only a stone's throw away from the suspicion of wanting to live out one's selfishness, which is hazardous to health, at the expense of the general public.
Kemmerich resigns from office: his withdrawal was inevitable
The Thuringian FDP chief Kemmerich has now become noticeably sure-footed - for the second time. His participation in a demo against current corona politics, without a mouthguard and in close proximity to the protesters AfD politicians and conspiracy theorists, was foolish. You don't even have to accuse him of unfair motives to find that he has done his party a disservice. The FDP blows the media wind cold in the face. The party cannot use clumsy problem bears; no later apologies. Kemmerich's withdrawal from the federal executive board was therefore inevitable.
Read also: "Violation of conditions": Organizer displayed after the Corona demo in Bavaria
Also interesting: Corona expert Drosten talks himself into rage - and even ironed out Nobel laureates
* Merkur.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editors network.
Rubric list image: © Marcus Schlaf
