FDP's Controversial Strategy Paper Sparks Internal and External Backlash

The Free Democratic Party (FDP) is facing significant criticism following the release of a strategy paper detailing a planned exit from the German traffic light coalition, a government alliance with the Social Democrats (SPD) and the Greens. The document, referred to as the 'D-Day' paper, has been condemned for its militaristic language, including terms like 'open field battle.' This language choice has been deemed inappropriate and has sparked outrage among former coalition partners and within the FDP itself.

Key figures in the SPD and the Greens, such as SPD General Secretary Matthias Miersch, have accused the FDP of deception and demanded an apology. Within the FDP, prominent members like Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann have called for self-criticism and questioned the appropriateness of the paper's wording. The backlash has also led to calls for the resignation of FDP General Secretary Bijan Djir-Sarai, who eventually stepped down under mounting pressure.

FDP leader Christian Lindner has faced scrutiny for not ruling out a coalition break publicly, and the party has been criticized for its handling of the situation. The strategy paper outlined mid-November as the optimal exit time, coinciding with the actual coalition breakdown on November 6, when Chancellor Olaf Scholz dismissed Lindner as Finance Minister.

The fallout from the paper has placed the FDP in a difficult position, with its credibility and electoral prospects in jeopardy. The party is polling below the threshold needed to enter parliament, adding urgency to the internal crisis. The situation underscores the challenges facing the FDP as it navigates the repercussions of its strategic missteps.