As of: February 12, 2024, 10:55 a.m
By: Richard Strobl
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FDP leader Christian Lindner visits Diana Zimmermann from “Berlin Direkt” on ZDF.
© Screenshot: ZDF/Berlin direct
The FDP is at a low point in the polls.
Party leader Christian Lindner commented on the reasons on ZDF - and also took credit for the traffic light coalition.
Mainz – The traffic light coalition has been lurching from crisis to crisis for months.
Even after compromises have been reached, the Greens, SPD and FDP contradict each other and publicly criticize the course of the other coalition parties.
There was even speculation about an early end to the Scholz government.
In current surveys, the traffic light seems to be paying off: all parties are losing.
But the FDP is hit particularly hard.
According to current surveys, the Liberals have now slipped below the five percent threshold and would therefore miss out on entering the Bundestag.
In an interview with ZDF, FDP leader Christian Lindner was surprisingly open about the traffic light disputes and the consequences for his own party.
Party leader Lindner on ZDF: “These are successes for the FDP”
From his point of view, there are two accusations against the FDP, Lindner explained on Sunday on “Berlin Direkt”:
“We are the blockers”: The FDP would ensure that the SPD and the Greens could not implement their issues.
The FDP, for example, would not contradict the Greens enough.
Both allegations are not true, said Lindner.
There are also many successes in the joint government - “also for medium-sized businesses”.
The FDP man lists: 15 billion in tax relief this year, electricity tax for the manufacturing sector reduced, investment rate in the federal budget increasing (for example for roads, digital networks and rail) and a large-scale education policy program.
“These are successes for the FDP,” said Lindner.
FDP loses “dramatically”: Lindner becomes clear – “we are making it difficult for ourselves”
The ZDF presenter Diana Zimmermann counters: “But that doesn’t really come across.”
All traffic light parties would lose in the polls, but the FDP would lose “dramatically”.
“You can't sell it,” said the journalist, who asked the FDP man whether the party needed to change course.
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Lindner initially remains controlled and says: The goal should be to do good for the country.
But then he agrees with the moderator and makes it abundantly clear: “The FDP suffers particularly from the fact that we belong to a very unpopular government.
And we’re making it difficult for ourselves as a coalition.”
He gives the example of the federal budget.
“We achieved mutual success” here.
The debt brake applies and the country's debt ratio is falling.
Investments are at a record level and the burden on citizens is being relieved, says Lindner.
But then he goes off on a tangent and says: “And then during budget week all I heard from Social Democrats and Green speakers was that they actually wanted something completely different.
Namely increase taxes and more debt.”
“Understand: This is a problem!” – Lindner makes it very clear on ZDF
The FDP leader starts with the general reckoning with the traffic lights: “And understand: This is a problem.
This is a government that always communicates differently and does not exude predictability.
Everyone suffers from this.”
By the summer, i.e. by the 2025 budget, we have to decide whether we want to restore this predictability.
Nevertheless, the FDP now wants to react to the current situation, said Lindner.
They want to move the country forward and especially “ensure an economic upswing” this spring.
This is particularly what the FDP voters expect.