A leading figure in the German liberal party, the Young Liberals, has expressed concerns over the party’s leadership model and warned against internal strife. Franziska Brandmann, the chair of the Young Liberals, believes the party needs a new setup that focuses on a team rather than a single individual. She suggested the possibility of a dual leadership, but stated she will not be a candidate for the party’s top position.
In an interview with the Tagesspiegel, Brandmann emphasized that the current situation, following the party’s failure to enter the German Bundestag, is not the right time for personal debates. She believes an honest analysis of the party’s mistakes should come first and then discussions about personnel can take place. Brandmann also warned against internal conflict, saying it would be a fatal mistake, especially at a time when the far-right AfD and the left-wing Linke are gaining support among young voters.
Instead, she urged the party to focus on its liberal core and not engage in internal power struggles. Brandmann’s comments come after other party officials, Wolfgang Kubicki and Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, had expressed interest in the party’s top position.