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Anyone who has followed the debate on the suspension of fundamental rights over the past twelve months must finally banish a claim into the realm of legends that has been in the minds of many people for decades: It is not true that the trophies of liberalism have long been common property big parties - Union, Social Democrats and Greens may say it no matter how often.
From the beginning of the pandemic, the FDP under its chairman Christian Lindner has been very sensitive to defending the spirit of the Basic Law against the tendency of the governing parties to lead the state as absolutistically as possible by means of statutory authorizations (what a monstrous word!). It is therefore no self-praise when Lindner reminds voters at the federal party congress of his liberals who the civil rights party in this state is. It is the FDP - after this year of emergency. Even more: it is the only opposition party.
While the Greens were busy offering themselves as government partners while waiting, and the AfD could not find its way out of the boozy years, the FDP managed smoothly to fulfill the three classic tasks of a democratic opposition: to criticize, to control and an alternative policy to show.
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And not in one field, but in different areas.
The polls show: the voter thanks it.
With a little luck, the FDP will end up in double digits in the general election.
More is not possible in this country - for historical as well as current reasons.
Liberalism has been the political mindset of the intelligentsia and academia for most of the centuries. In the sphere of influence of the French Revolution, political liberalism saw itself marginalized as early as the 19th century - on the one hand by the mass of the egalitarian petty bourgeoisie, on the other hand by the conservatives. Today it is not entirely different.
The Federal Republic is a care republic in which everything is expected from the state and little from the individual. The pandemic has reinforced this trait. A party that, like the FDP, relies on free markets and a solid economic policy and reminds us that Germany's 1.5 trillion euro corona debt also has to be repaid, is unlikely to be carried into the Chancellery. Still, it is important that the Liberals become part of the next federal government. You have what it takes, the necessary ideas and more than one capable head.