The Free Democratic Party (FDP) is confronting challenges ahead of the 2025 federal election, with polls indicating low support around four percent. Christian Lindner, the party’s leading candidate, has ruled out collaboration with the Greens, aiming to unify the party around key issues such as tax reform and reducing bureaucracy. Despite internal concerns and past controversies, Lindner seeks to bolster confidence and attract undecided voters while facing criticism from the Union party regarding electoral strategies.
Federal Election 2025: The FDP’s Challenge
The Free Democratic Party (FDP) is facing a significant challenge in the upcoming federal election, as recent polls indicate potential setbacks. Top candidate Christian Lindner has made it clear that he is done partnering with the Greens. What strategies do the Liberals have in place to change their fortunes?
The atmosphere at the party convention in Potsdam was electric, with over 600 delegates giving a warm reception to Lindner during his speech. The objective was to project a strong, united front to the nation. The overarching theme was one of confidence and solidarity within the party.
‘We are aware of our precarious position in the polls,’ Lindner acknowledged. The Free Democrats have remained consistently low, hovering around four percent—below the critical five percent threshold required for re-entry into the Bundestag.
Fostering Confidence
The day in Potsdam was characterized by motivational messages. Deputy party leader Wolfgang Kubicki emphasized, ‘There are still many undecided voters out there.’ He suggested that election night might bring unexpected results. ‘Here stands the confidence’ became a phrase echoed by many delegates.
The FDP is not only confident but also assertive and combative. They aim to dispel any notion that they have given up on their campaign. This aligns with their nine key points outlined in their election manifesto, which now serve as conditions for potential government participation.
The focus is on reducing burdens for citizens and businesses, implementing major tax reforms, transforming economic policy, promoting freedom, enhancing digitalization, and minimizing bureaucratic red tape. Many of these positions are well-established tenets of liberal ideology.
The special party convention in Potsdam kicked off with Deputy leader Kubicki calling for a fighting spirit among members.
Lindner Rules Out Green Coalition
In a notable development, the party convention reached a unanimous decision against collaborating with the Greens at the federal level. ‘There will be no cooperation with the Greens after the next federal election,’ Lindner firmly stated.
Positioning the FDP on Coalition Matters
This decision also effectively eliminates the possibility of a Jamaica coalition. ‘The key question is: Lindner or Habeck in the cabinet,’ he stated, referencing the Green chancellor candidate. Kubicki labeled the FDP as ‘the bulwark against a black-green alliance.’
Such declarations were met with laughter, applause, and cheers from the delegates. The intention behind this anti-Green stance is to attract support from voters on the political fringes, particularly those aligned with the AfD. However, the effectiveness of this strategy remains uncertain, as the FDP has also ruled out collaboration with the AfD, the Left, and the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance.
Party leader Lindner emphasized the strength of the FDP at the convention.
Concerns Among Supporters
Beneath the surface of the well-orchestrated party convention, there are murmurs of uncertainty among many delegates and supporters. The dismal poll numbers have sparked anxiety. Since September 2023, the FDP has struggled to surpass the five percent barrier in the ARD Germany Trend.
This unrest was apparent in the Bundestag during a recent vote on a migration law proposed by the Union, where a significant portion of the Bundestag faction defied party leadership, either voting no, abstaining, or not voting at all, partly due to reported illnesses. Many were reluctant to back a proposal that relied on AfD votes for passage.
The FDP is making another push to organize a vote on migration policies.
Silencing Criticism
Previously, the controversial D-Day paper, which outlined plans for exiting the traffic light coalition and managing the ensuing crisis, sparked discontent within the party. Consequently, Lindner has been perceived as weakened internally. However, this sentiment did not permeate the atmosphere at the convention, where criticism was absent during the delegate discussions following Lindner’s address.
Outwardly, party strategists are focused on projecting an image of unity now more than ever. If Lindner can maintain a slim presence in the Bundestag for the FDP, he is likely to retain his leadership position, especially if he guides the party into the next federal government. Conversely, if the outcome is unfavorable, a reshuffle of leadership may be on the horizon.
The FDP faces the possibility of falling short of the five percent threshold in the federal election.
Merz’s Campaign Against FDP Votes
Current polling suggests that the FDP’s recent losses in state elections have left them too weak to independently sway voter sentiment. They will need to attract support from Union voters who favor a black-yellow coalition. To that end, Lindner has sought to engage CDU and CSU members and has urged Union chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz to endorse the FDP.
However, the Union is taking a contrary stance, with Merz recently advising voters against choosing the FDP. ‘Four percent is four percent too much for the FDP and four percent too little for the Union,’ the CDU chairman remarked. He cautioned that votes for the FDP would be ‘lost votes.’
Merz is warning voters to avoid wasting their votes, which could signal a shift in voter strategy towards the Greens.
Lindner’s Rebuttal to CDU and CSU Leadership
The FDP’s frustration was palpable at the party convention in response to this distancing by the Union. Lindner retaliated against Merz and CSU chairman Söder, who had cautioned against ‘loan votes’ to the FDP. Lindner quipped, ‘Markus Söder has exactly two votes, his own. He doesn’t need to lend them to us; he can keep them.’
He called for a resurgence of confidence within the party: ‘This proud, traditional Free Democratic Party does not seek loan votes. We want commitment votes.’
FDP Secretary General Marco Buschmann echoed this self-assurance in his closing remarks: ‘The Free Democrats are brimming with energy. We are ready to hit the ground running and win this election.’ The convention concluded on a high note, mirroring its energizing beginning.