Read the video transcript here
Posing for dozens of cell phone cameras.
If you didn't know better, you might think that a pop star would sign autographs here - and not a politician.
Question
"Have you always been so strongly besieged by young people, Mr. Lindner?"
Christian Lindner, FDP top candidate
"That's not besieging!"
"But?"
Christian Lindner, FDP
»Many people share our opinion with regard to civil liberties now after the pandemic, share our enthusiasm for technology as an answer to climate protection, are just as impatient when digitization will continue, and that is why we are happy to receive so much support from Younger. "
Shortly before the general election, the FDP leader wants to inspire the noticeably large number of young listeners for his party.
Right in front of the sinfully expensive Elbphilharmonie, of course.
Question
"What does Christian Lindner do better than other top candidates, in your eyes?"
Quotes
"Among other things, its openness ..."
»Its media presence! He's definitely very active in social media. "
“He's a counterweight. I think that's good, it has to exist in the diversity of parties. "
"What I think is really nice is that he worked it all out."
Question
"Who would be your favorite Chancellor at the moment?"
"Well, ultimately Christian Lindner!"
The Greens are actually considered a party of the younger generation.
But the FDP chairman cannot do much with their politics.
Christian Lindner, FDP
»The Greens say their model for our federal capital Berlin is Bullerbü ... And even with all my love for Astrid Lindgren - I also loved as a child, but I can't remember what they actually live on in Bullerbü.
What are they doing for a living? "
Quotes
»I think the approaches are correct.
That one tries to tackle this not only through bans, but above all through innovation, through incentives, through promotion in the economy, because I believe that the economy can achieve a lot if you let it. "
"Red-red-green, that would be, I guess, not very good for our society and that should definitely be prevented."
Christian Lindner, FDP
»The weakness of the Union in terms of content, the red-green flirtation with the Left Party, increases the responsibility of the FDP.
The CDU can no longer be trusted to assert itself. "
Lindner wants the votes of the Union.
Recently, the CDU and CSU slipped deeper in the polls than ever before.
It is by no means enough for a two-party alliance with the desired coalition partner of the FDP.
With the prospect of various tripartite alliances, the tone is now getting rough - throughout the party.
Ria Schröder, FDP Hamburg
»To be honest: If I were a Union voter, it would be very difficult for me at the moment, the Union has little of its own.
The good ideas that she brings up are mostly copied from the FDP. "
Question
"How many Union voters would you like to have with the FDP?"
Christian Lindner, FDP
»We are concerned with voters who mean us.
We court people who have our beliefs and we appeal to all people, no matter what they have chosen beforehand.
But it's about our beliefs.
We don't want to argue tactically.
I said specifically here: Don't choose tactically, but based on your convictions. "
It will probably be tactical for Lindner after the election.
He is once again considered a "kingmaker" because neither Scholz nor Laschet will get past the FDP during the exploratory talks.
Four years ago he turned down a coalition with the Union and the Greens.
It is better not to rule than to rule wrongly.
The older ones remember.
Quotes
"He probably bit his own bum there."
"But of course you shouldn't let yourself bend indefinitely in your own position so that every time something comes up for decision, you lose out because you're outvoted."
Question
"And you think that he has more time government will as after the last election?"
“That's guaranteed, yes. I would say that. It is unmistakable that he is slowly getting the hang of what went wrong back then. "
The FDP is currently distributing in all directions.
There is one thing that does not seem to be important to them: harmony.
