It’s over, and it won’t be a long election night this time. “It won’t work with the state parliament,” says Michael Ruoff, head of the FDP in Munich, shortly after the first figures were announced at 6 p.m. and the FDP had landed at three percent at this point. Top candidate Martin Hagen speaks on stage in the “Ella” in the Lenbachhaus about a “sad day for our party and for liberalism in Bavaria.” And he thanks his group and supporters: “It was an honor for me to be able to fight for the liberal cause with you in this election campaign.”
It’s quiet when the numbers are announced, a quiet “Ahhh” whispers through the crowd. City boss Ruoff grimaces, almost in pain, and it’s probably not just because of his headache. “Ah awesome, so fucked up,” says another quietly. The FDP supporters show embarrassed faces, the corners of an older member’s mouth twitch worryingly, he holds his beer glass and focuses on the television screen on which the election broadcast continues.
Wolfgang Heubisch classifies the result and criticizes the Bavarian government’s traffic light bashing, which was “massive”. And states: “Bavaria has shifted to the right today. We have to be very careful not to lose our liberal values.”
The FDP had already had to worry about entering the state parliament in the 2018 state elections. At that time she barely managed it, with 5.1 percent. Also because she got a lot of votes in Munich. If it were up to the people of Munich, the FDP would probably have passed the five percent hurdle this time too. After almost half of the voting districts were counted, she received 6.0 percent of the first and 6.2 percent of the second votes.
Susanne Seehofer, daughter of the former CSU Prime Minister and probably the most prominent newcomer to the Munich FDP, wants to continue to advocate for the liberal idea. “Even more so now,” she says. According to the first results, she got 7.3 percent of the votes in her constituency – “at least”.
The mood wasn’t really hopeful right from the start, as the candidates gradually arrived at the election party. Julika Sandt, who had been in the state parliament for five years, had a grumbling stomach, Felix Meyer was nervous, and Jennifer Kaiser-Steiner was exhausted from the long election campaign.
Munich’s FDP city boss Michael Ruoff has little hope at the beginning of the results marathon.
(Photo: Alessandra Schellnegger)
Sobering evening for two former state ministers: Martin Zeil and Wolfgang Heubisch (from left).
(Photo: Alessandra Schellnegger)
There is still a pat on the back for the Munich FDP leader Michael Ruoff. “You fought well,” one says to him. “We all fought well,” he replied. And explains why, in his opinion, it was: “If you, as a candidate in Bogenhausen, are repeatedly asked about the politics of the traffic light coalition, then it is clear that local issues do not play a role.” You have to ask yourself whether this is the right constellation to move the country forward.
Two 17-year-old young liberals from Regensburg got something from the buffet and are now sitting somewhat embarrassed on the terrace. It’s a shame, they say, that the celebrations won’t happen today. Was that it now, with them and the FDP? On the contrary, says Noah Rohrwild. “I want to get more involved now.” Lukas Weber nods. Her evening in Munich won’t be long – school will be back the next day.
At the end of the evening, one or two of you may be wondering whether the slogan “Hello, Hello Future” wasn’t a stupid idea because of the ambiguity.