SPD politician Ralf Stegner defended Wolfgang Kubicki, the leading candidate for the FDP chairmanship, against accusations that he aims to transform the party into something akin to a “second AfD”. While cautioning that playing the role of a right-populist can cause damage, Stegner argued that the potential benefits might ultimately outweigh the harm. He emphasized that although Kubicki occasionally deviates from the party line, he remains a staunch supporter of the rule of law. Stegner suggested that if politicians across other parties adopted Kubicki’s passion, it could potentially help shrink the size of the AfD. Looking ahead, Stegner expressed confidence in the liberal party’s ability to stage a comeback if Kubicki is confirmed as chairman next week. Drawing on past results, the SPD politician noted that Kubicki consistently boosted the FDP’s vote share by two to three percentage points in Schleswig-Holstein. Based on this track record, Stegner predicts that Kubicki can deliver a similar boost nationwide, suggesting, “They don’t need much to get over the five-percent hurdle”.
Politics
