The leader of the Free Democratic Party (FDP), Christian Lindner, has called for a reduction in the size of the state apparatus. In an interview with the news magazine “Politico”, he stated that the Federal Environment Agency could be abolished. Lindner also suggested that the country’s climate goal should be set at 2050 and that the national approach should be abandoned, and that the citizen’s basic income should be reformed to make the social welfare system more effective.
Regarding the recent polls showing a slight increase in the FDP’s popularity, Lindner attributed it to the party’s ability to block the coalition of the Greens and the Social Democratic Party in the German Bundestag, as well as the possibility of a future coalition with the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). He also praised Elon Musk as an entrepreneur, but not as a political advisor, and expressed admiration for his business achievements.
When asked about the inauguration of US President Donald Trump, Lindner said that Trump’s views should be taken seriously, but not everything he says should be taken literally. He emphasized the need for a different approach to transatlantic diplomacy, as Trump thinks in terms of spheres of influence and interests.
The liberal leader also appealed to German politics, urging against moral lectures and instead advocating for genuine communication and a willingness to understand the other side. He saw a government change in Germany as an opportunity to promote the country’s interests and values in a more level-headed manner in the face of the US.