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FDP politician Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann is leading her party as the top candidate in the European elections in June.
© Michael Kappeler/dpa
Two years in the traffic lights cost the FDP approval.
The Liberals are heading into the European election campaign with their defense expert.
She wants to fight against bureaucracy and for common defense.
Berlin - The FDP is going into the European elections with its controversial defense expert Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann as the top candidate.
The 65-year-old, who received more than 90 percent of the delegate votes for her candidacy at the European Party conference on Sunday, announced a fight against excessive bureaucracy and for military cooperation, including a European army.
“Because when we are strong, we will not be attacked.
The ancient Romans already knew that,” said Strack-Zimmermann after her election.
They accounted for 553 of the 613 valid votes cast.
There were 50 votes against and 10 abstentions.
The European elections in Germany are on June 9th.
Strack-Zimmermann called for the decisive defense of the European system of values with its freedoms for citizens.
“What a great free world.
What an awesome world.
This world deserves celebration,” she said.
But: “This economic and peace project has never been put under so much pressure, never been so attacked,” she warned.
The need of the hour is unmistakable and visible determination.
Europe must face its challenges
Europe must begin to face the challenges, demanded Strack-Zimmermann, who is currently chairwoman of the Bundestag's Defense Committee.
One cannot expect the USA to always pull the chestnuts out of the fire.
Ukraine, the Middle East, North Africa - “all of these are on our doorstep,” said Strack-Zimmermann.
“And that's why - damn it - we finally have our role to play worldwide.
And that's why in the long run, if we're smart, we won't be able to avoid a European army.
We will have to completely reposition ourselves.”
She sharply criticized the “chronic rage for regulation” and the “daily ant tattooing” in Brussels and criticized EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (CDU) for this.
“Mrs von der Leyen is organizing this Europe into madness,” said Strack-Zimmermann and demanded: “Less von der Leyen, more freedom.”
Message to Olaf Scholz
In an interview with “Welt TV” on the sidelines of the meeting, she sent a message to the Chancellery and Olaf Scholz (SPD), whom she had repeatedly accused of being hesitant about military aid for Ukraine.
“Now it’s about transporting as much FDP as possible to Europe.
And I can’t take the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany into consideration,” said Strack-Zimmermann.
She referred to differences in Ukraine policy: “We have different views.
In this respect, it is not my chancellor.
I voted for him, he is part of the coalition.”
“June 9th is about a lot.
It is not a protest, but a design election on June 9th,” says FDP leader Christian Lindner.
© Michael Kappeler/dpa
At the start, FDP party leader Christian Lindner recalled the eventful European history.
Now, after wars and destruction, there is the unification project of the European Union and the FDP is determining its course on “Charleday” - the anniversary of Charlemagne's death.
He warned that politicians from the far right to the far left - he named Sahra Wagenknecht, who ran with a new party, and AfD leader Alice Weidel - were prepared to talk to Russia about normalized economic relations despite the war of aggression and to sacrifice Ukraine.
“Anyone who thinks like that and decides like that about the freedom of a country that, according to international law, is allowed to decide for itself which path it takes, would, if in doubt, be prepared to sacrifice our freedom if it were inconvenient,” said Lindner.
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Lindner warns against voting for the AfD
He urgently warned against turning the European elections on June 9th into a lesson for the established parties and voting for the AfD.
“June 9th is about a lot.
It is not a protest, but a design election on June 9th,” said Lindner.
The AfD is a threat to civil values and democracy.
She wants to turn the European Union into a “quarry”.
“The AfD’s program would ruin Germany economically.
And that is why this program must not be implemented under any circumstances.” dpa