FDP party conference: Djir-Sarai new Secretary General – Lindner demonstratively stands in front of Chancellor Scholz

Created: 04/24/2022Updated: 04/24/2022 06:07

By: Bedrettin Bölükbasi, Cindy Boden, Christoph Gschoßmann

He is the new FDP general secretary: Bijan Djir-Saai.

© Michael Kappeler/picture alliance

The FDP meets for the party conference.

The party supports the demand for the delivery of heavy weapons to Ukraine.

Bijan Djir-Sarai is the new Secretary General.

• With a

  speech by Christian Lindner : The FDP starts its two-day

  party conference

  on Saturday

  .

• The foreign politician Bijan Djir-Sarai is the new FDP general secretary.

• Lindner

  denounces

  the "neglect" of the Bundeswehr

  : According to the FDP chairman, the Bundeswehr can no longer be neglected - both materially and "ideally".

• This

  news ticker for the FDP party conference

  is continuously updated.

FDP party congress is behind the demand for arms deliveries

Update, 8:35 p.m .:

The FDP federal party conference in Berlin has clearly backed the demand for the delivery of heavy weapons to Ukraine.

With a very large majority, the delegates approved a corresponding proposal by the federal executive board on Saturday evening.

It says: "The most important and short-term most effective means of stopping the Russian advance is the significant intensification and acceleration of the delivery of highly effective and heavy weapons to the Ukrainian army."

FDP boss Lindner reports via Twitter

Update, 8.30 p.m .:

Christian Lindner’s name was on the speaker list as usual at the FDP party conference – but his appearance was different than usual.

Sweaty, shorter speaking time, little interaction.

There was criticism - "The man belongs in bed," it said.

He announced himself via Twitter.

FDP party conference: the board is becoming a little more female

Update, 5.43 p.m .:

The federal executive board of the FDP became a little more female on Saturday: At the party conference in Berlin, the member of the Bundestag Renata Alt, the chairwoman of the Young Liberals (Julis), Franziska Brandmann, and the Lower Saxony member of the state parliament Susanne Schütz were new assessors in the panel elected.

The by-elections had become necessary because several male board members were elected to higher party offices.

Alt received 85 percent of valid votes.

85 percent of the participating delegates also voted for Brandmann, Schütz got 86 percent.

Schütz and Brandmann were asked by a delegate before the election how the proportion of women in the party and in the committees could be increased.

Among other things, it is about being a role model in order to "lower the inhibition threshold" for other women to get involved in the FDP, said Schütz.

The women in the party should also support each other more and network better.

Djir-Sarai is the new Secretary General of the FDP

Update from April 23, 4:21 p.m .:

The foreign politician Bijan Djir-Sarai is the new FDP Secretary General.

At the suggestion of party leader Christian Lindner, the federal party conference on Saturday in Berlin voted for the 45-year-old politician from North Rhine-Westphalia.

Djir-Sarai is the successor to Volker Wissing, who is Digital and Transport Minister in the new federal government.

He will "never, never, never be an additional government spokesman," Djir-Sarai said.

“My mission is FDP.

My mission is a successful FDP,” he said.

The new FDP treasurer is Michael Link, a member of the Bundestag, who will succeed Harald Christ.

Link had also been appointed coordinator for transatlantic cooperation by the federal government.

Lindner switched on via video at the FDP party conference

Update from April 23, 2:20 p.m .:

At the FDP party conference, chairman Christian Lindner was connected via video from Washington due to his corona infection.

Lindner's condition caused a lot of comments on Twitter.

FDP party conference: Bushman with clear words – “Putin’s butchers will be brought to justice”

Update from April 23, 2:15 p.m .:

Federal Minister of Justice Marco Buschmann (FDP) relies on international prosecution of war crimes in Ukraine.

"We can promise: Nowhere in the world should war criminals feel safe.

They definitely won't do it in Germany," said Buschmann on Saturday at the FDP federal party conference in Berlin.

And: "The focus of this party congress is the war in Ukraine." Buschmann said he was proud that the Attorney General was one of the first prosecuting authorities in the world to initiate investigations into how the war in Ukraine was being conducted.

"We have successfully brought Assad's torturers to justice in Germany and we will successfully bring Putin's butchers to justice in Germany if we get hold of them." The Russian President believed the world was still in the 19th century.

Bushman: Vladimir Putin believed that when the guns speak, the law is silent.

But today we can say: This war of aggression violates international law.

The justification for this is a lie.”

FDP party conference: Lindner calls for independence from Russian gas and oil - "have to diversify"

Update from April 23, 12:55 p.m .:

“We have to free ourselves from dependence on Russian imports as quickly as possible,” emphasizes Lindner with regard to dependence on Russian gas and oil.

In the case of coal, this liberation will succeed “quickly”, in the case of oil “soon”.

With raw materials and gas, however, it takes “more time”.

But the goal must be clear: “Germany and Europe must become independent of imports from Russia.” To do this, one must diversify.

FDP party conference: Lindner calls for an end to the "neglect" of the Bundeswehr and "ideal re-establishment"

Update from April 23, 12:45 p.m .:

Lindner now leads to the situation of the Bundeswehr.

She is "deplorable".

The FDP has been pushing for years to end the neglect of the Bundeswehr.

The FDP chairman describes the neglect as an "ideal contempt" of the German soldiers.

In addition to the material issues, Germany must also "reestablish" its ideal relationship with the Bundeswehr.

With the 100 billion package, you are now taking a new step in the material.

FDP party conference: Lindner names three criteria for the decision to deliver heavy weapons to Ukraine

Update from April 23, 12:40 p.m .:

When asked about the delivery of heavy weapons to Ukraine, Lindner speaks of three criteria.

Germany must therefore act in unison with allies, such as the USA and France in particular.

"Acting in unison means that we don't do less than others," says Lindner.

At this point he refers to the supply of artillery by the USA.

Within the framework of the harmony, additional measures could now be made possible "de facto" by the so-called "ring exchange" of military goods with Eastern European partners.

In this way, military equipment can be made available "immediately and quickly."

Another criterion is the non-impairment of Germany's ability to defend itself and the fulfillment of its obligations in NATO.

The third and final criterion is that Germany must not become a party to the war.

Summarizing these criteria, the following picture emerges for Lindner: “We must do everything in our power to help Ukraine win, but the ethical limit of responsibility is endangering our own security and endangering the defensibility of the territory the NATO.”

FDP party conference: Lindner protects Scholz and accuses the Union of “dangerous play”.

Update from April 23, 12:35 p.m .:

Amid the criticism of Chancellor Scholz for the lack of arms deliveries to Ukraine, Lindner is now protecting the Chancellor.

The "CDU narrative and general criticism" of Scholz could not be a thing.

"Olaf Scholz is a responsible leader who weighs things up carefully and makes decisions on this basis," Lindner clarifies.

It is a serious situation and the FDP must now clearly underline: "The Chancellor has the confidence of the FDP and also their parliamentary group in the Bundestag."

In this context, Lindner accuses the Union of playing a “dangerous game”.

With the initiative to deliver arms, the Union obviously wants to cause difficulties and destabilize the governing coalition.

"In times of war in Europe, I have absolutely no sympathy for this form of partisan political maneuvering," said Lindner.

FDP party conference: Lindner signals support for the delivery of heavy weapons to Ukraine

Update from April 23, 12:30 p.m .:

Lindner is now talking about what is undoubtedly the most anticipated topic at the party congress: the delivery of heavy weapons to Ukraine.

"Ukraine needs military aid and heavy weapons," emphasizes the FDP chairman.

It is a mystery to him "why this clear statement is such a problem, such a hurdle for some".

In order for Ukraine to be victorious, it also needs heavy weapons.

FDP party conference: Lindner calls for "complete" isolation of Russia - "no normal coexistence under Putin"

Update from April 23, 12:25 p.m .:

In his speech at the party conference, FDP chairman Christian Lindner calls for complete political, financial and economic isolation of Russia.

"There can be no normal cooperation with Russia under Vladimir Putin," says Lindner.

However, the decisions to isolate Russia should not only come from Europe, but would have to find support on the world stage as a whole.

Because it is not just about a regional conflict, but about a “fundamental question of a rule-based world order”.

FDP party conference: Lindner takes up Ukraine's "value decision" - "must and will win"

Update from April 23, 12:15 p.m .:

Lindner refers to his trip to Kiev in 2020. There he met many government officials and opposition forces.

He felt a "clear value decision" for the open societies of Europe and against the "closed authoritarian society of Vladimir Putin".

"I have no doubt: Ukraine was also attacked by Putin because it made these clear value decisions - value decisions in the direction of Europe and our liberality, away from the authoritarian system of Vladimir Putin," said Lindner.

That's why Ukraine has a double solidarity - both human and in terms of values.

“In Ukraine there is also a fight for the values ​​that are important to us.

And that's why Ukraine has to win this war and Ukraine will win this war," emphasizes Lindner.

FDP party conference: Lindner describes the Ukraine invasion as "terrible and contrary to international law"

Update April 23, 12:10 p.m .:

Now the FDP chairman Lindner is talking about the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

It was a "terrible war of aggression contrary to international law".

Every day you have the "disturbing images" in mind.

"The people in Ukraine have our full solidarity," assures Lindner.

A nuclear power is now attacking sovereign states unprovoked, which is changing the international order of peace and freedom, stresses the Liberal leader.

"It is a fundamental change in the geopolitical situation in Germany and Europe," he emphasizes, and warns: "Unfortunately, this is deadly serious, which also requires responsible and serious decisions from us."

FDP party conference: Linder speaks of the changed character of the corona pandemic

Update from April 23, 12:05 p.m .:

First, Lindner comments on the current situation of the corona pandemic.

It is not over or over yet.

"Witness: Christian Lindner," he says at this point as a reference to his own infection.

However, the “character” of the pandemic has changed, which is why protective and hygiene regulations are still necessary, according to Lindner.

Nevertheless, more togetherness is already possible.

At the same time, the “character of fighting the pandemic” must now change.

Even before the general election, the FDP had campaigned for “effective and proportionate” measures, he explains.

One felt connected to this in government responsibility.

FDP party conference: Lindner's speech begins on time - video switch from Washington due to corona infection

Update from April 23, 12 p.m.:

The speech by the FDP chairman and Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner at the Liberal party conference begins at 12 p.m. sharp.

Due to a corona infection, he was connected via video from Washington.

FDP party conference: Kubicki attacks coalition partner SPD – “ideological ballast”

Update from April 23, 11:45 a.m .:

With an attack on the coalition partner SPD, the deputy FDP chairman Wolfgang Kubicki opened the federal party conference of the Liberals.

With a view to the international criticism of Germany's hesitant attitude when it came to supplying arms to Ukraine, he said: "The image that many representatives of the largest governing party are presenting in front of the eyes of the world public is not one that can satisfy us as a coalition partner. "

Kubicki warned: "We simply don't have time to deal with the ideological ballast of the past." Concrete and effective military aid for Ukraine is needed.

"And some say that there is also a lack of decisive leadership," said the FDP politician.

Kubicki saw Germany as ill-equipped for the challenges of the future.

"The Russian war of aggression and its consequences have relentlessly revealed that the Federal Republic has not made a number of fundamental directional decisions in at least the past decade and a half," said the Vice President of the Bundestag, adding: "It is now becoming apparent that Germany has held its own for too long leaned back, was trapped in a political twilight sleep for far too long.”

FDP party conference: Liberals want to support Ukraine arms deliveries - dispute in German politics

Update from April 23, 11:15 a.m .:

At the FDP party conference, the liberals want to commit to supporting arms deliveries to Ukraine.

The FDP would thus officially join the position of Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, other Green politicians, but also the Union.

The SPD, on the other hand, is showing restraint and is now accusing the Union of a “riot course” with regard to the delivery of heavy weapons to Ukraine.

FDP party conference: Young liberals are putting pressure on "speedy" arms deliveries

Update from April 23, 10:20 a.m .:

The youth organization Junge Liberale puts pressure on the FDP federal party conference for a quick delivery of heavy weapons from Germany to Ukraine.

The Russian war of aggression in Ukraine represents an absolute turning point in European history, said Federal Chairwoman Franziska Brandmann.

"The least we can do now is to provide Ukrainians with the means they need to defend themselves against the Russian army.

This also includes the rapid delivery of heavy weapons such as tanks, artillery or helicopters," emphasized Brandmann.

The voices of the allies in Eastern Europe and the Baltic States have been ignored for too long.

The Young Liberals also called for a complete ban on energy imports from Russia - "a complete energy embargo".

"While the war is raging in Ukraine and the Russian army is murdering civilians there, raping women and kidnapping children, we are transferring billions to the Russian regime for energy imports, which is using it to finance this war," said Brandmann.

"The countries of the European Union have transferred 40 billion euros to Russia since the beginning of the war alone."

Brandmann underscored that Germany had embarked on a catastrophically misguided energy policy that had to be dealt with consistently.

“In this process, no stone must be left unturned, everything must be on the table.

There is only one option for an honest investigation: We are therefore calling for an investigative committee of Kremlin friends," said Brandmann. 

FDP party conference: Vice-Chairman Kubicki protects Chancellor Scholz

Update from April 23, 9:50 a.m.:

The FDP party conference should also deal with the delivery of heavy weapons to Ukraine in the midst of the Russian attack.

A commitment to support such deliveries is expected at this point, in stark contrast to Chancellor Olaf Scholz's dovish position.

The FDP politician Wolfgang Kubicki, however, now protected Scholz and defended him.

FDP party conference: For the first time after entering the traffic light - Ukraine as a priority topic

First report from April 23, 2022:

Berlin - For the FDP, the first FDP party conference since the Liberals entered the traffic light coalition will take place this weekend.

On Saturday (April 23), at 11 a.m., the party begins the two-day session.

Especially: Unlike before in the pandemic, delegates and top representatives are gathered in an event hall in Berlin.

But with one prominent exception: federal party leader Christian Lindner is infected with the corona virus and is therefore connected via video.

He will give the main speech on Saturday, around 12 o'clock.

Bijan Djir-Sarai is to be elected the new Secretary General in the afternoon.

The party leadership wants to present the delegates with a motion that is intended to emphasize the independence of the FDP in the coalition - and which clearly differentiates itself from the SPD and the Greens in energy policy, for example.

A commitment to support Ukraine with heavy weapons is also planned.

This could become explosive at the traffic lights and before the likely vote on heavy arms deliveries in the Bundestag.

Because there are still different voices in the coalition - Chancellor Olaf Scholz remains cautious.

FDP party congress: Demand for delivery of heavy weapons for Ukraine

The FDP now wants to pass a demand for the delivery of heavy weapons to Ukraine at its federal party conference.

"We Free Democrats support Ukraine in exercising its legitimate right to military self-defense against the Russian war of aggression," says the draft motion of the FDP federal executive board, which was presented to the German Press Agency on Friday.

Ukraine must be supported quickly and effectively, taking into account a number of criteria.

"This also includes the delivery of heavy weapons and the rapid provision of armaments by German industry, for which Germany, as announced, will take over the financing," says the draft.

Also mentioned is the previously announced exchange of rings, in which eastern NATO allies will hand over weapons systems that have already been introduced to Ukraine in exchange for material from Germany.

“Our own defense capability must not be compromised.

And Germany must not become a party to the war,” says the draft.

Germany should also act “in unison” with allies, especially the USA and France.

FDP party conference: Heavy arms deliveries sought - "Important sign"

The FDP defense politician Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann meanwhile sees her party on the right track with the demand.

"This means that the FDP will be the first party to include the demand for heavy weapons for Ukraine in its resolution - by decision of its highest decision-making body, namely the federal party congress," she told the German Press Agency.

"This is not only an important sign to our coalition partners and the people in our country, but especially to Ukraine."