Henning Höne has withdrawn his candidacy for the chairmanship of the FDP. Moving forward, the politician stated that he only intends to run for the position of first deputy chairman at the party conference scheduled for the end of May. This strategic move clears the way for Wolfgang Kubicki, who can now stand for the federal chairmanship without any internal competition.
In a joint interview, Höne and Kubicki emphasized that they mutually planned this step, signaling their objective to unite the FDP’s forces. They highlighted the necessity for this action, particularly when looking at the current state of the federal government.
Kubicki vowed to keep Höne closely integrated into the party structure. He referenced their successful past working relationship, which he compared to the evolution from the “Lindner-Kubicki” era to the potential “Kubicki-Höne” collaboration. Höne itself enjoys an elevated profile within the party due to his role chairing the North Rhine-Westphalia branch-the largest state association-and serving as the parliamentary group leader in one of the few state parliaments where the FDP retains representation. Both men presently hold the title of party vice-chairman.
While Höne attributed his withdrawal to a lack of sufficient support within the party, he noted that in such situations, all involved parties must continuously re-evaluate the situation. He stressed that party colleagues frequently requested a solution that incorporated both of their talents.
The two leaders expressed confidence that their different political styles are compatible. Höne explained that while their approaches differ, the public does not await a homogenized FDP, but rather one guided by a clear directional compass, yet robust enough to accommodate diverse minds and characteristics.
They outlined a working division of labor: Kubicki will focus specifically on Berlin, while Höne will dedicate his efforts to the upcoming state election in North Rhine-Westphalia next spring. Kubicki left his future intentions open, stating that the decision regarding whether he will run for the chairmanship again in a year-should the FDP elect a new federal board-is something they will decide with ample time.