Two weeks prior to the German federal election, the Free Democratic Party (FDP) held a special party convention in Potsdam, where it adopted a so-called election manifesto. According to the party, the main focus of this document is a shift in economic policy. Additionally, it mentions the goal of forming a black-green coalition and explicitly rules out an alliance with the Greens. The resolution states: “Alliance 90/The Greens are a democratic competitor, with whom the Free Democrats can cooperate in principle. However, after the upcoming federal election, we will not cooperate in a new federal government.”
FDP leader Christian Lindner introduced the election manifesto in the afternoon, reaffirming his claim to be part of the next government and labeling the question “Lindner or Habeck in the cabinet” as the “decisive question” of the election campaign. “After the next federal election, the Free Democrats will not form a government with the Greens” he said. As soon as the FDP is part of the German Bundestag, a black-green coalition is “mathematically excluded” according to Lindner.
However, Lindner also criticized the Union, rejecting demands from the Christian Social Union (CSU) that the FDP should not receive “borrowed votes.” He responded, “Markus Söder has exactly two votes, his own, which he doesn’t need to lend us.” The FDP does not campaign for borrowed votes, but rather wants to receive “affirmative votes.” “Who finds us good, should vote for us.”
In conclusion, the party’s general secretary, Marco Buschmann, stated at the end of the convention on Sunday afternoon that the meeting had shown that the party is united. The slogan for the election campaign should now be “Make Liberty Great Again” Buschmann said.