The FDP is seriously lacking leadership and Germany is not getting the government it needs. A short personal analysis.
It’s been more than 8 years now that I joined Germany’s Free Democrats as a party member. And since I wasn’t born into the party, but deliberately chose it for its political views, I have been quite emotionally attached to it and am now shocked about the latest developments.
Back then, I was in school, fifteen years old and started getting interested in politics. I’ve always been a guy who wants to shape his future and as I was thinking that politics was affecting everyone’s life, mine as well, I’d better get engaged. Since my family wasn’t inclined to any special political side, I had a rather neutral view on the different parties and started to look around.
It was rather soon that I knew that Germany’s FDP was the only German party my beliefs could go hand-in-hand with. I’ve always valued hard work, tolerance, and respect for other people‘s way of life and the FDP is the only German liberal (in a European sense) party that charmingly combines free-market thinking and economic knowledge with an open and tolerant view on society. But it wasn’t only due to philosophical theory of Hayek and Friedman, I very actively engaged in the German election campaign in 2005 and tried to as strongly support the FDP’s prospects for government in 2009 as I could, but because I was – and am still convinced – that the FDP’s program is what Germany needs to get ready for the future.
Before the last election in September 2009, analyzing the recent government performances, everyone with little sense knew that Germany still hadn’t done most of its homework:
- Social security systems, especially healthcare and the retirement system, are nowhere near to cope with an ever-aging society; the red-green coalition with Agenda 2010 only managed to prevent its very short-term collapse
- German tax system is a horror with no financial incentive for low-income earners to do honest work
- In Germany educational success is very much dependent on a child’s parental background leaving massive numbers of young people mostly with immigration background uneducated and unemployable
- and many more, you name it.
The mandate for reform had been given
In autumn 2009, I had the feeling that Germany had understood that probably only a coalition of the conservative parties and the FDP could bring much-needed reforms to Germany. The average German was sick of the –only so-called- “grand coalition” of the two biggest parties which barely did anything, but enjoying their great BMW, Audis and Mercedes official cars. They didn’t govern; they were called the government, because someone had to and they could be.
On election evening, I had the great pleasure to attend the FDP’s official election party. And a party it was. Scoring an all-time high of almost 15% of votes and bursting with confidence, the party’s bosses could go into negotiations with the conservatives to form a strong government with the intention to reform Germany and tackle the country’s structural problems. The mandate had been given and it was now up to personal leadership to get the job done.
Unfortunately, the first months of government have shown that the party’s leaders are not up for the job. The coalition’s agreement with regards to content was still a good one and one could see the liberal handwriting and the intention to get a job done. I could also live with the FDP people chosen for ministers. It had been clear that Guido Westerwelle would become foreign secretary and choosing young Philipp Rösler as health minister was a fresh start. It was weird, that Dirk Niebel became minister of economic cooperation and development – a job he had declared he wanted to get rid of after the election – but, hey, who cares if they get their job well done.
Westerwelle’s tries to show leadership have been rather helpless
Yet, that’s not what happened so far. The coalition agreement was still fresh, when not only the opposition (well, that’s the way democracy works), but also supposed to be conservative brothers-in-arms began attacking the political aims and agreements the coalition had made a few days ago. But who was there to defend it? Noone showed real sign of defending the aim of reform. Neither has Merkel shown any sign of leadership and Westerwelle’s tries to do so have been rather helpless.
Germany needs reforms and the political aims of the coalition agreement show into the right direction. The question is: Is there anybody still following the agreement? I don’t have the feeling. The conservatives more or less openly mourn about the happy days of the grand coalition and the FDP is lacking political leadership and someone to bang one’s fist on the table and say: “That’s not what we have been elected for!”
Instead, the liberal MPs are extremely unlucky (to say it nicely) in showing that they even matter. It’s not out of blue that following the latest politbarometer trend only 3% of Germany would cast their vote for the FDP. That’s not even half of what’s considered their hardcore voter base! And the handling of the Greek crisis perfectly shows us why:
The 750bn EUR bailout bill and the discussion about the taxing financial markets have considerably shocked the liberals’ voter base. Who if not them would follow economic reason? But instead of listening to the party’s financial experts Frank Schäffler (btw: the until-then party’s guy in the Bundestag financial commission) and Hermann-Otto Solms (btw: the guy who was supposed to be finance minister), 91 of 93 liberal Bundestag MPs quietly voted for the bill. Who wonders that the party’s base is freaking out? I encourage you to read the comments posted under Volker Wissings “reasons why I supported the bill”. “You should rename your blog from 93 liberals to 2 liberals and 91 socialists” is still one of the nicest comments. Instead of reasonably arguing against the bill and going for an alternative solution than skipping the No-Bailout-Clause and creating a European transfer union (read Otto Solms reasons why he didn’t support the bill), the party joins in the European demagogue chorus of shouting out loud for a worldwide Tobin tax and supporting populist measures as banning short-selling even the French consider unhelpful. Such dishonest politics, calling for “making the markets pay” and on the other hand rescuing their ass by buying their toxic assets through the ECB, might work for left-leaning parties, but not for the FDP. I am convinced that this Greek crises and the FDP’s ridiculous behavior will haunt the party for the next years to come.
If it can’t be done with Mrs Merkel, then there’s no reason for the FDP to stay in this coalition
But even without the Greek crises the “bourgeois” government looks doomed. The current government is nowhere near living up to its expectations of getting Germany ready for the future. There is no sign of a leader to show the way to go – neither in the coalition government, nor in the FDP where one is even more desperately needed. The FDP needs someone to speak up. To the party, to the public and to the coalition. Germany doesn’t need just another social democratic party. And Germany doesn’t need just another party that joins the chorus of paving the way for even more state regulation. Instead, the FDP should honor its voters, who have elected them to get Germany back on the right side of the road. To free people to do their jobs and live their lives the way they want. And to conduct sensible economics. If this can’t be done with Mrs Merkel, then there’s no reason for the FDP to stay in this coalition. There’s just nothing to win for the party, only defeat as recent elections have clearly shown. Much damage has already been done, but it’s not too late. Sticking to its words has made the party strong over the last years. And it’s the only way of getting back on track: Doing honest politics and sticking to one’s word. Unfortunately, the FDP is currently betraying its very own principles that have made it so strong. Thanks to Mrs Merkel and missing leadership in the FDP. If this coalition isn’t to end in total defeat for the FDP, someone has to speak up. But whom?
As for now, it’s just all bad luck for Germany and Europe. Let’s hope it won’t be too late when Mrs Merkel and Mr. Westerwelle will be followed by more powerful political leaders who will not be satisfied with a side note in future German history books. Or, can they still turn the tide? I’m rather skeptical, but would be more than happy to see a surprising turnaround.
(When I finished this blog post, I discovered this FAZ article stressing the same points I just did. Definitely worth reading if you understand German.)
Der Economist