FDP leader Lindner considers the question “Black or Green?” To be decided before the federal election

Updated: 07/02/202120:29

• OfMike Schier

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  Georg Anastasiadis

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FPD party leader Lindner could play a decisive role in the formation of a coalition in the fall – only perhaps differently than when he rejected Jamaica in 2017. A conversation.

Munich – Almost three months before the general election, the FDP is stable in the double-digit range in the polls. In the interview, party leader Christian Lindner speaks about the Greens around Annalena Baerbock, about Armin Laschet’s abilities and sends poisoned praise to Markus Söder.

Mr. Lindner, do you still think it would be better not to govern than to govern wrongly in 2021?

Yes, you can count on us to keep our word after the elections. But there is a second sentence: if you can govern well, you can’t leave the country to others.

A situation could arise in the autumn in which you could elect Annalena Baerbock as chancellor. Would you?

That is a downright fictional scenario. The question of black or green in the Chancellery has been decided. It is almost certain that the mandate to form a government will go to the Union. The remaining question is: black-green or a coalition in which the FDP is involved.

What makes you so sure?

When I look at the polls, the trends and the public appearances so far, I expect the Greens to achieve a good election result – but the Union will have a big lead.

FDP leader Christian Lindner: “Anyone who applies for a top position has to be asked questions by the public”

But you don’t want to rule out a traffic light.

I don’t have the imagination how that should fit together. The FDP excludes tax increases and wants to relieve the people. The Greens want to raise taxes. We see education as a social challenge, the Greens redistribution. We want to curb debt, the Greens want to soften the debt brake in the Basic Law. We want climate protection with ingenuity and technology, the Greens with subsidies and bans.

Ms. Baerbock is in a lot of trouble right now, keyword CV and plagiarism. Is she the victim of a character assassination campaign or a political impostor?

People should judge that for themselves.

In the room there is the accusation that Baerbock was being shot in particular because she is a woman.

Anyone who applies for a top position has to be asked questions by the public. It is questionable whether a top candidate of the FDP would be treated more carefully with such debates.

Is that why you have not nominated a candidate for Chancellor?

We are realists. The concept of the candidate for chancellor is already out of date. It comes from the 1960s. The configuration of the government is crucial. A black and green Armin Laschet would be very different from a black and yellow one.

Lindner on Laschet: “His ability to integrate is an opportunity”

Would Laschet be a good chancellor?

He can organize fair cooperation. Different results are possible with Laschet and Friedrich Merz than with Angela Merkel and Peter Altmaier 2017. His ability to integrate is an opportunity because he can overcome conflicts. But it is also a risk because he would be able to integrate the Greens’ program.

Sorry, are you still talking about Laschet or are you already talking about Markus Söder?

(laughs) Lash. Markus Söder impresses with special adaptive skills.

Poisoned praise.

We value each other and take teasing in a sporty way. If the AfD is strong, Söder railed against asylum tourism. When the greens are strong, he hugs trees. And when the FDP grows, the CSU discovers the idea of ​​removing the solidarity surcharge. After the election, everything is forgotten.

New from his mouth was the message that there should be no new lockdown in the fall. Do you believe him?

I don’t want to rely on it. That is why the FDP wants to co-govern from autumn. We have never questioned the danger posed by Corona, but we nonetheless attached great importance to fundamental rights and freedom. In the autumn we absolutely have to prevent new school closings – for example through comprehensive test offers, hygiene concepts and the offer of vaccinations by mobile teams, if the Standing Vaccination Commission recommends this.

Corona in Germany: Lindner does not consider the seven-day incidence to be the right standard

Given the high vaccination rate, is the seven-day incidence still the right benchmark?

No. And it never was. Added to this, for example, is the occupancy rate in the hospitals and the positive rate of the tests.

In the meantime, fully vaccinated people should also be in quarantine if they had contact with Delta infected people.

I advise against traveling to virus variant areas. But ten days seem too long to me. Multiple tests and shorter quarantines should limit risks.

Bavaria is currently discussing Hubert Aiwanger, who does not want to be vaccinated. Is that his personal freedom?

According to my impression, he is maneuvering. That is his privilege. But one can expect a holder of a high office of the state to make and justify a decision for or against it.

The other big issue in Bavaria is the knife attack in Würzburg. Does Germany need a different migration policy after the Merkel era?

I don’t want to make a connection with the crime in Würzburg. But a controlled migration policy is necessary. We need the hardworking hands and bright minds of immigrants that we choose to keep pensions stable and the economy going.

And politically persecuted?

We have to show solidarity with the persecuted. That is a humanitarian obligation. But those who on the one hand are not qualified or willing to integrate, on the other hand are not persecuted either, cannot come or stay. Without control of access all order would collapse.

Interview: Georg Anastasiadis and Mike Schier

source https://pledgetimes.com/fdp-leader-lindner-considers-the-question-black-or-green-to-be-decided-before-the-federal-election/