Christian Dürr, the likely next chairman of the FDP, has expressed his disagreement with Friedrich Merz, the CDU candidate for Chancellor. In an interview with Politico, Dürr stated, “No, I would not actually vote for him.” He further explained that his main criticism is that the reform agenda previously mentioned during the election campaign may not be realized by this Chancellor.
However, Dürr welcomes the appointment of three designee ministers who are entrepreneurs, namely Karsten Wildberger, Katharina Reiche and Verena Hubertz. He believes it is beneficial to bring individuals with practical experience in business into politics. In fact, he recently decided that Nicole Büttner, a successful AI entrepreneur, will become his Secretary General in case he is elected. This decision reflects his belief in the importance of such appointments. Dürr also appreciates Nicole Büttner’s decision to continue her entrepreneurial activities.
Despite these positive aspects, Dürr is critical of the new government, particularly its focus on foreign policy at the expense of necessary domestic reforms. He argues that there is much to be done in the current political climate, from dealing with the impact of Trump to addressing the Ukraine crisis. However, he fears that these pressing domestic issues may be overshadowed by the government’s preoccupation with foreign affairs. Dürr believes that the last coalition government failed due to their inability to address these domestic challenges. Moreover, he expresses concern that under Merz, the necessary economic agenda for the country, preparing for the 2030s, may be neglected.
Reflecting on his own political career, Dürr acknowledges that he has had desires to actively engage in politics. However, he also recognizes that political involvement should not be pursued solely for personal gain. He admits that he has critically examined his own actions and wonders whether different approaches could have been taken. Nonetheless, Dürr remains committed to his political aspirations and is determined to work towards the necessary reforms for his country.