Marie‑Agnes Strack‑Zimmermann, a member of the FDP presidium, has distanced herself from party chair Christian Dürr after the party’s disappointing results in Baden‑Württemberg. “Christian Dürr took responsibility in an extremely difficult situation” she told the newspapers of the Funke‑Mediengruppe. “Personnel debates cannot simply be moderated away after such defeats”. She stressed that the party must speak openly and seriously about how it will organise itself and recruit staff, while also clarifying its substantive positions.
Strack‑Zimmermann said the FDP must once again make clear what it stands for. “People expect solutions and visible politics, not merely criticism of what others do” she added. She linked liberalism to economic strength, innovation, security and individual freedom, urging the party to convincingly explain that this policy produces prosperity.
When asked whether she would take on the FDP’s leadership, she answered evasively. “It is not about personal ambitions. It is about making the FDP stronger together” she said. “I will contribute as many others do”. She made no sense of a return of Christian Lindner, whom she acknowledged had shaped the party for many years and deserves respect. “Parties, however, must look forward”.
Finn Flebbe, the head of the Junge Liberalen, also called for personnel consequences on the national level. “This result illustrates once again that there has not been a real restart after the federal election; the FDP stagnates below the threshold of visibility” he told the Spiegel. “The first half of the FDP federal board’s term is therefore judged as insufficient”. He urged the party leadership to cut old ties immediately, not “tomorrow or sometime later” but now. “The FDP will not become strong again by habit, but only through clearly drawn consequences and the courage to renew” he insisted as the July‑presided chair.