Nadin Zaya, the newly appointed member of the FDP leadership, has advocated for increased pragmatism and a more considerate tone within her party. Speaking to Redaktionsbetzwerk Deutschland, she stated, “The crucial point is that we have forgotten how to reach compromises”. She observed that the FDP had operated under the false belief that it could impose 100 percent of its demands during a governing coalition. “But that’s not how governing works. You always have to find a middle ground with coalition partners. We need to put this self-evident truth out there more often”.
Zaya specifically distanced herself from the harsh phrasing sometimes employed by the new party chairman, Wolfgang Kubicki. She stated that she was not moved by politicians insulting one another, labeling such behavior as a “vulgar liberalism” that does not resonate well with the majority of society. “My campaign proved that you can win against two rivals without resorting to crude language. We must speak clearly and factually, but also with heart” she added. Although Kubicki had never held the federal chairmanship before, she expressed confidence that he would adopt a different tone in his new role.
Regarding policy, she stressed that the FDP should focus on education, digitalization, and human and civic rights, highlighting these as the areas that led to the party’s success in the 2017 Bundestag election campaign.
Zaya viewed the surprise campaign of Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann for the chairmanship positively, stating: “It shows that the FDP is competitive”. She dismissed Strack-Zimmermann receiving 40 percent of the vote as a failure, describing it instead as a reminder to Kubicki to listen to all members of the FDP, not just those who share his views. Kubicki had already begun his tenure’s address by adopting a more inclusive tone.
Zaya, who is 27, secured her position at the FDP party convention on Saturday against two opposing candidates, Hessian FDP chairman Thorsten Lieb and Dresden Mayor Dirk Hilbert. The long-serving North German coordinator was nominated by the Young Liberals.
