Former Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing has sharply criticised the present direction of his former party, the Free Democratic Party (FDP), and has ruled out any return to a leadership position.
He says the party’s current libertarian stance is the reason for its poor approval ratings. “The libertarian path we’re taking now is questionable” he said. “In 2021 we didn’t join a government on that footing; we had a broader view of liberalism”.
When asked whether he would come back to the top of the party, Wissing replied unequivocally no. “I’m happier as a lawyer and content with my firm. I’m looking forward to taking on clients again from May”.
Speaking to “Der Spiegel”, Wissing stressed that politics must focus on what is right for the country. “Politics is becoming too dominated by PR concerns” he said. “The search for an ethically correct decision should shape politics more than the quest for a perfect public image”.
Regarding the breakdown of the coalition (the so‑called ‘traffic light’ coalition), he distanced himself from how the FDP leadership handled the situation. He explained that he had daily questioned whether he could justify his actions and, on some occasions, had chosen differently from his party. He singled out the coalition break as particularly problematic, arguing that “taking political risks is something that needs careful consideration”. He views the SPD, Greens, and FDP as democratic parties that must be capable of negotiating compromises, noting that democracy thrives on compromise rather than mutual defeat.
Wissing also pointed out the strategic fallout of the coalition collapse for the FDP. He criticised the leadership for failing to anticipate the consequences, warning them that the party would face an existential crisis. “It’s hard to see now that I was right, but I can’t be held responsible for that decision” he said.