Despite the candidacy of FDP Vice Chairman Wolfgang Kubicki for the leadership of the Free Democrats, North Rhine-Westphalia’s state leader, Henning Höne, continues to pursue his own bid. Speaking to WDR, Höne clarified his intentions, stating, “I haven’t run against a specific person, but for the federal leadership of the Free Democrats”. He argued that the FDP urgently needs a fresh start, an achievement it has failed to secure during the coalition government, and that new faces are essential for such a believable revitalization, which forms part of his proposal. Höne downplayed the idea of a power struggle, saying, “I think we need to be careful not to always speak of an election in parties when, in reality, only one person is running, and immediately suggesting a power struggle or competing candidates once there is a choice”. He asserted that it is actually the most natural thing in a democracy for voters and delegates at party conferences to have options when casting their ballots. When questioned about whether Kubicki has an advantage due to greater experience and a large network, Höne responded, “Experience is one aspect, but not the only one”. He stressed that especially when a fresh start is necessary after an election loss at the federal level, the party must dare to attempt a genuine renewal. He concluded by stating, “No one is born into it; rather, it is built by all the well-known faces in politics today”.
Politics
