At the opening of an extraordinary digital federal party meeting, FDP Chairman Wolfgang Kubicki expressed concern over what he described as “civilizational setbacks” in Germany. He stated that the party must not be intimidated by extremists, whether from the left or the right, and must resist the “culture war in migration policy.” Kubicki asserted, “We defend the internal liberalism of our society. We will not and cannot accept ‘No-Go-Areas’ for certain groups.”
The FDP leader added that antisemitism, homophobia, and misogyny have increased in recent years. He emphasized the need for a free society where people feel safe, stating, “I do not want Jews in Berlin to have to hide their Star of David when they go out on the streets. I do not want gay couples to be insulted and threatened in public spaces, and I do not want women to avoid certain areas because they no longer feel safe.” Kubicki concluded that while a free society should be “open-minded globally, it should not be naive toward its opponents.” He fundamentally called for the FDP to return to the parliamentary sphere.
The central focus of the party convention itself was the discussion of a resolution calling for comprehensive party reform. According to the guiding resolution, the party should strive to become “the most modern party in Germany,” necessitating the consistent dismantling of “stagnant structures.” Planned changes include introducing the possibility of dual leadership, establishing new guidelines for the federal executive board, reducing organizational dual structures, and focusing on digital exchange formats for member communication.
This internal drive for change comes against a backdrop of significant crisis. The Liberals have been struggling since their departure from the Bundestag, and even the new Chairman, Kubicki, has not yet managed to reverse the decline. Currently, the FDP is represented only in four state parliaments, three of which are scheduled for new elections next year.
