Berlin, Germany – The relationship between the Free Democratic Party (FDP) and the Greens has suffered another blow, as a verbal exchange between the two parties’ leaders has sparked controversy. In a live television appearance, FDP leader Christian Lindner and Green Party Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock engaged in a heated exchange on the topic of international politics.
The tension began when Lindner made a comment about the “moral appeals of feminist foreign policy being over” prompting Baerbock to interrupt and accuse him of not being “patriotic.” Lindner responded by stating that they had previously maintained a cordial relationship, but the matter was not pursued further.
Later, when asked about the deployment of German peacekeeping troops to Ukraine, Baerbock made a pointed remark, addressing Lindner directly, saying, “You were so busy and you were so busy leaving the government, that you no longer noticed that others were still making politics during that time.”
The incident serves as a symbol of the deteriorating relationship between the FDP and the Greens, which has been strained since the parties’ three-year coalition government came to an end. The FDP had officially ruled out the possibility of re-entering a coalition with the Greens at a special party convention just two weeks prior to the upcoming federal election.