The voters didn't get it.
This is how the North Rhine-Westphalian FDP explains its defeat.
The CDU has therefore received the successes of the previous joint government.
But the FDP was just as free to allow that.
In addition, many liberal voters apparently did not consider education policy in NRW to be worthwhile after all.
Finally, the FDP is making the not entirely new experience that the longed-for co-government at the federal level can lead to punishment in the states.
The Free Democrats are also held liable for projects that are not their own - so that the federal chairman Christian Lindner, who once succeeded in rebuilding the FDP in and about North Rhine-Westphalia, now once again called to mind: The traffic light is never the been a dream, yes, it now even lacks legitimacy in NRW.
But through the traffic light, the FDP in the federal government has reached its goal.
And she doesn't want to linger too long on coming to terms with the past and bring her own issues to the fore, but wants to continue to help steer the ship Germany "in war and crisis".
Lindner focuses on his oath of office and not his party's "land gains".
Who would say anything against it.
But especially in times of war and crisis, especially in a new coalition – in the federal government – mere co-government is not enough.
It must be made clear what the FDP stands for.
Where is her handwriting recognizable?
Christian Lindner has now called for improvements in the "question of justice".
But there are probably better experts out there.
It is not easy, but possible and worthwhile, to rely on freedom even in the pandemic and with a view to war (without bluntly misunderstanding freedom from all democratically established rights).
The FDP is still seen by some as a corrective against lack of freedom and ideology, especially in times of strong green gains.
She has to live up to this claim.
Otherwise it will drown in a colorful sauce.