The FDP is struggling with the traffic lights: At the Epiphany meeting, party leader Lindner defends the coalition’s work against criticism from the grassroots – and avoids points towards the Greens and SPD. He addresses harsh words to farmers.
The FDP wants to encourage itself and spread energy during the traditional Epiphany meeting in Stuttgart. “The federal government is acting,” emphasizes party leader Christian Lindner. “It is not without errors – who would be. But we decide more right than wrong, otherwise the FDP would not be part of this government.”
It is a signal – probably also to those members who have spoken out against continuing the coalition. The party is not letting this spoil the mood at its political start to the year. There is cheering and applause in front of the magnificent backdrop of the opera house.
Farmers demonstrate in front of the opera
Outside, however, some groups are demonstrating against the government’s work. Farmers are also among them again; they are defending themselves against further burdens, explains farmer Roswitha Geyer-Fäßler. “In agriculture, we feel that many measures are pushing us further and further into a corner,” says the vice president of the state farmers’ association in Baden-Württemberg. “We already have a lot of regulations that are constantly raining down on us. And this has just been the last straw.”
The FDP partly understands this. However, Lindner criticizes the fact that the protests are escalating, for example against the Green Party’s Economics Minister Robert Habeck. The Finance Minister demands that things must remain proportionate and that the agricultural associations must not allow themselves to be infiltrated. “This society has a responsibility for agriculture, but agriculture also has a responsibility for society.”
Strack-Zimmermann for a common EU foreign policy
The social climate and the popularity of the AfD also brings some worried tones into the speeches at this Epiphany meeting. Everyone must stand up for democracy and freedom, demands Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann. She is the FDP’s designated top candidate for the European elections. She currently heads the Defense Committee in the Bundestag.
Strack-Zimmermann advocates an EU with a stronger common foreign policy. “Values are defended with words,” emphasizes the politician. “But in an emergency you have to defend it militarily in the truest sense of the word.”
When peace demonstrators protested loudly in the opera house’s boxes, Strack-Zimmermann called out to them: “Listen carefully. We’re talking in freedom here. Then it’s over in the area. For you too. You won’t be able to shout anymore.”
Clear stance on the issue of the debt brake
The FDP’s goal is to be successful in the European elections – and then to have tailwind for the difficult state elections in the east that are coming up in the fall. In order to combat the poor survey results, the FDP wants to further show its profile. But party leader Lindner does not use his speech to attack the coalition partners SPD and Greens.
Only when it comes to the debt brake does the finance minister reject everyone who questions it. Otherwise, he emphasizes that the goals of the SPD, Greens and FDP in no way contradict each other. “Growth-oriented economic policy is the prerequisite for being able to make social and ecological policies at all,” says Lindner.
Strengthen the economy, reduce bureaucracy, promote education
And so the FDP wants to score points this year with its tried and tested themes: strengthening the economy, reducing bureaucracy, but also promoting education.
The situation in the country is serious, says the FDP leader. From his point of view, praying for health and painting doom doesn’t help – just facing the realities and doing something.
Vera Wolfskämpf, ARD Berlin, tagesschau, January 6th, 2024 3:48 p.m