German politician Volker Wissing, former Minister of Transport and Justice, has seemingly taken the harsh criticisms from his FDP party in stride. “Some acquaintances have publicly voiced criticism” he told the “Tagesspiegel” (Tuesday’s edition).
“I don’t feel like I’ve lost friends, though” Wissing clarified, suggesting that those who cannot understand his stance either never knew him or were never his friend. Many FDP members in Rhineland-Palatinate, he emphasized, remain closely connected to him. “They regret that we can no longer work together in the party” he added.
Wissing also reiterated his defense of his decision to remain in the government led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and leave the FDP as a result. He had chosen to “fulfill his responsibility” he said, and since there was no valid reason for his resignation, he remained in office. “The consequence of this was that I had to leave my party, as the FDP went into opposition” he concluded.