FDP paper: Coalition partners take a breath, opposition rejoices

With twelve points, the FDP wants to give the economy new impetus, and to do this they are also relying on social cuts. The SPD speaks of “party conference folklore”, the Greens demonstrate calm – and the opposition rejoices.

The FDP’s 12-point paper is causing discussions in the traffic light coalition. This is a welcome opportunity for the opposition to criticize. “This is an extraordinary process,” said Carsten Linnemann, general secretary of the CDU. If the FDP were to announce today that it is leaving, then the CDU would be “capable of running an election campaign straight away,” said Linnemann. “Personally, financially and organizationally.”

Sahra Wagenknecht had previously called for new elections and CSU boss Markus Söder described the FDP’s 12-point paper as a “divorce certificate”.

Profile sharpening before the party conference

But is the FDP really interested in breaking up the coalition with its demands for an economic turnaround? It is more obvious that the FDP would like to sharpen its own profile before its party conference at the weekend. “I didn’t wake up in the morning with the aim of provoking anyone in this country,” asserted Bijan Djir-Sarai, general secretary of the FDP, shortly after the party leadership had approved the position paper.

“Just as the SPD has the right to formulate its own positions, just as the Greens have the right to formulate its own positions, the FDP – surprise – also has the right to formulate its own positions,” explained the Secretary General. “Especially before an FDP party conference.”

No new demands

The FDP’s demands are essentially nothing new, but they have now been summarized in a 12-point paper with particularly high publicity. These include: reduction in bureaucracy, faster building permits, the complete abolition of the solidarity surcharge and no further government support for renewable energies.

The following points in particular are causing discussions: The FDP wants to abolish the so-called pension at 63, introduce strict sanctions for those who refuse to work in the citizens’ benefit and put the brakes on the welfare state as a whole. The paper says: “We want a moratorium on social benefits.” Politicians should not introduce any new social benefits in Germany for at least three years, said Djir-Sarai.

Heil speaks of “Party conference folklore at the FDP”

The proposals are not well received by the SPD. SPD co-party leader Lars Klingbeil told broadcaster ntv that his party was also committed to strengthening the economy. “But I don’t want to do this with the concepts of the 90s,” said Klingbeil. “I want to do this with an economic policy that is up to date. And that means not playing off economic and social issues against each other.”

Labor Minister Hubertus Heil from the SPD emphasized that dismantling workers’ rights or cutting pensions was not a good idea if economic competence was really at stake. “That has little to do with economic competence,” said Heil.

But he sees it quite calmly, said the minister. He considers this “more like party conference folklore for the FDP, because it won’t become a reality in the government coalition.”

Restrained reaction from the Greens

The Greens’ reaction is also cautious. “The FDP’s positions are not new,” said party leader Omid Nouripour. “Party conferences are there to make decisions and we are known to have different views on these issues.”

Party conference resolutions are one thing, agreements within the coalition are something else. That’s right. The traffic light coalition is currently finding it difficult to reach new agreements.