FDP chief Christian Lindner views the Union as a “political chameleon” looking at potential future coalitions. He said to TV station “Welt” that Friedrich Merz will likely become Chancellor, but a Chancellor Merz with Robert Habeck would be a completely different one, who would collaborate with the FDP and his own person.
“The CDU is a political chameleon – it always takes the color of its coalition partner. And a green or red CDU – I don’t know if that’s what Germany needs.”
The liberal continues to advocate for working together to address the Corona pandemic with the SPD, Greens, and the Union. He, however, ruled out cooperation with the AfD, saying, “There is no cooperation with a party that wants to damage parliamentarism, as we saw in Thuringia during the formation of the state parliament.”
In the federal election campaign and in the current public discussion about who might participate in potential TV duels, Lindner would also go to the TV studio against the AfD’s chancellor candidate. “Robert Habeck has rejected a debate with the AfD’s top candidate – I have a different opinion” he said.
If one wants to convince AfD voters that they have no good alternative, but that there are better options, then one must engage in the idea competition with them and not exclude them. “On the contrary, one must engage in an argumentative debate with them. I fear this debate, however, not at all.