Berlin After the major defeat in the state elections in North Rhine-Westphalia, the deputy chairman of the FDP, Johannes Vogel, called on his party to continue working constructively in the traffic light coalition. “The electoral defeat is bitter and painful. It really hurts,” Vogel told Handelsblatt. The Liberals should now “continue to work in a concentrated and courageous manner” in the federal government.
“We also have to remain courageous and tackle the modernization projects that we have planned,” said the parliamentary manager of the FDP parliamentary group. Many projects such as the share pension would still come. “It will become clear how the coalition is moving the country forward together and what the FDP’s specific contribution to this is.”
In Vogel’s opinion, the FDP has filled the right ministries in the federal government, even if Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Economics Minister Robert Habeck (both Greens) are particularly impressive at the moment.
Departments are in different focus at different times. “You shouldn’t approach ministries based on PR considerations, but based on conviction about which topics you consider to be central,” said Vogel. “And I am convinced that we are focusing on key issues with solid finances, digitization, civil rights and education.”
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Read the entire interview here:
Mr. Vogel, after five years of black and yellow state government, the liberals in North Rhine-Westphalia have been punished by voters with 5.9 percent. Does governing the FDP harm?
Johannes Vogel: Taking on government responsibility means being able to shape the country. That’s why we do politics. The Free Democrats want to shape the country – if the content is right. So I can only say no to the question. But what is true is that the election defeat is bitter and painful. That really hurts. We have to work out the reasons for this.
How much frustration does the FDP supporter have with the Berlin traffic light coalition in this election result?
Such a bad result never has only one aspect. There were country-specific problems: being responsible for school policy during a pandemic was certainly not a winning topic. And then the CDU managed to explain the election as a question about the Prime Minister and at the same time to adorn itself with government successes of the FDP, such as the talent schools. Apparently we in NRW have not managed to work out the independent driving role of the FDP in the state government in a sufficiently perceptible way over the past 5 years. We must learn from this.
What do you learn from this for the role of the FDP in the traffic light coalition?
First, we must continue to make clear what the situation is: the three parties that make up this coalition have very different positions and perspectives. They have not married, but want to make a difference for the country as independent parties.
We have to make it clear in each case: what are our specific ideas as the FDP, and how can we as a coalition advance the country together? We must also remain courageous and tackle the modernization projects that we have planned.
>>> Also read: NRW election: These are the lessons of the SPD for the federal government
With reference to the coalition agreement, the FDP is preventing tax increases or the introduction of the speed limit. Is this defensive role a problem?
It’s good that we have this coalition agreement from the center. Business representatives have also emphasized that the coalition agreement has a much more market-oriented character than previous ones. And we as Free Democrats make sure that this is also implemented. Many modernization projects such as the share pension are still to come. It will become clear how the coalition is moving the country forward together and what the FDP’s specific contribution to shaping it is.
Finance Minister Christian Lindner has to incur large debts. That pulls at the FDP.
(Photo: IMAGO/Frank Ossenbrink)
The coalition agreement is one thing, government work is another. And the FDP does not seem to deliver what its supporters had hoped for. The finance minister has to run up large debts, and there is a lot of talk about state intervention. In view of the current crisis situation, is there no other way?
I don’t share that. We have introduced relief of 37 billion euros, much of it permanent, such as the higher basic allowance. Such relief would have been unimaginable some time ago – but necessary in Germany, a high-tax country. And as far as the debt is concerned: For example, I think the 100 billion euro special fund for the Bundeswehr is absolutely necessary and right.
The decisive question is why we as a state are able to act in times of crisis and why we can also afford higher levels of debt in such times. This is only possible if we ensure innovative strength and economic growth and pay attention to solid finances in the good times. It will depend very much on the FDP in the coming years.
The perception of politics is also linked to people. So far, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Economics Minister Robert Habeck have been particularly noticeable. Does the FDP have the wrong departments?
It is in the nature of things that the foreign minister and the economics minister, who are supposed to make the country independent of fossil energy from Russia, are visible in this acute crisis. And it’s also good, by the way, because we all face these tasks together. Departments have different focuses at different times. I remember discussions when the FDP appointed the foreign minister and that was considered a mistake because the media focus was elsewhere.
For me, the conclusion is that ministries shouldn’t be aspired to for PR reasons, but rather based on conviction about which topics you consider to be of central importance. And I am convinced that we are focusing on key issues such as solid finances, digitization, civil rights and education. In this respect, we should now continue to work with concentration and courage.
Mr. Vogel, thank you for the interview.
More: The Greens after the election: Between triumph and consideration for humiliated traffic light partners