(de-news.net) – Following the resignation of Bijan Djir-Sarai, former Justice Minister Marco Buschmann will assume the role of FDP General Secretary, as confirmed by a party spokesperson. Designated General Secretary Marco Buschmann admitted to the party’s mistakes regarding an internal strategy paper on dissolving the coalition. He stated that those responsible had taken accountability and defended party leader Christian Lindner, describing him as a formidable campaigner and leader. Buschmann, proposed by Lindner, is set to succeed Djir-Sarai, who resigned along with Federal Managing Director Reymann due to the scandal. Buschmann will be officially appointed by party committees tomorrow and will oversee the Bundestag election campaign, advocating for an FDP-Union alliance.
Buschmann expressed his honor at the trust placed in him. As a close confidant of Lindner, he has extensive experience within the party, having served as Federal Managing Director and General Secretary in North Rhine-Westphalia. He emphasized the FDP’s role in revitalizing the economy and safeguarding individual freedoms from bureaucracy and state overreach. Buschmann, a pivotal figure in the FDP’s resurgence post-2013, is considered one of Lindner’s closest allies. The party needs at least five percent of the vote or three direct mandates to re-enter parliament.
FDP Vice Chairman Wolfgang Kubicki praised Buschmann’s appointment, highlighting his proven ability to lead large organizational units and his deep knowledge of party structures. Kubicki urged the party to focus on the upcoming election campaign, emphasizing the importance of economic transformation, migration policy reform, and defending societal freedoms. He affirmed the party’s readiness for the challenges ahead.
Meanwhile, FDP leader Christian Lindner has ruled out resigning over the D-Day affair, which involves the planned dissolution of the coalition. He expressed his belief in his cause and his desire to see if it garners public support. Lindner intends to run as the FDP’s lead candidate in the upcoming Bundestag election. He received backing from Buschmann, who praised Lindner as a strong campaigner. The FDP had been preparing for the coalition’s end for some time.
FDP Presidium member Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann has called on the new General Secretary to review the D-Day paper. She emphasized that the issue lies in communication rather than the preparation for the coalition’s end, which all parties, including the SPD and Greens, had undertaken. Strack-Zimmermann criticized Lindner for not making a decisive move earlier, suggesting that a decision should have been made last summer. She affirmed her active participation in the election campaign, stating that she would be involved in both Europe and Berlin.