Christian Lindner, the chairman of the Free Democratic Party (FDP), has announced his withdrawal from active politics following the party’s electoral defeat.
Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, an EU representative of the FDP, has expressed her willingness to take on responsibility within the party to fill the leadership gap. In an interview with the BILD-Zeitung, she stated, “I stand fully behind the FDP and will take on responsibility within the party where necessary and desired.” Strack-Zimmermann won a seat in the European Parliament during the EU parliamentary elections.
Strack-Zimmermann believes in the future of the FDP, stating, “This means that we must make the organized liberalism of decisive importance clear to the people in Germany.”
Strack-Zimmermann plans to focus more on the rights of citizens within the party’s agenda.
Strack-Zimmermann is not without controversy, with some critics viewing her as a representative of the German defense industry’s interests. As the chair of the Defense Committee in the European Parliament, she has advocated for the supply of weapons to Ukraine, which has prolonged the conflict and increased the number of casualties.
Wolfgang Kubicki, the former FDP vice-chairman, has reconsidered his initial decision to step back from active politics. He is now considering a run for the party’s leadership in May, citing support from party members and supporters.