2024-07-21 13:41:37
Friedrich Merz criticizes the FDP for not re-electing Ursula von der Leyen. A liberal gives a clear answer.
FDP Vice-Chairman Wolfgang Kubicki has lashed out at CDU leader Friedrich Merz. On Platform X, the liberal wrote: “Dear Friedrich Merz, I wish you a safe journey with the Greens – into the abyss. Your Wolfgang.” He was reacting to comments made by the CDU leader about the FDP.
On Deutschlandfunk, Merz spoke out about the FDP’s behavior during the re-election of Ursula von der Leyen as President of the European Commission. The Liberals did not vote for her. “For months now, I have had little understanding for the attitude of a whole series of FDP MPs in both the European Parliament and the German Bundestag,” Merz said on Friday morning.
At the same time, Merz praised the Greens – the main political opponent in Germany. “It is important that Ursula von der Leyen now has a stable majority in the middle of the European Parliament – and that of course includes the Greens – that she can rely on.”
European politician Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann vigorously rejected the criticism of the FDP’s behavior. “We believe it is extremely dangerous in terms of democratic theory to only vote for one candidate in order to somehow still be allowed to participate,” Strack-Zimmermann told the AFP news agency. “Equally dangerous is the Union’s claim that you have to dance when the election winner expects something.”