In the competition for the location of the international anti-money laundering authority, Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner continues to advocate for Frankfurt.

The FDP politician confirmed this on Thursday evening at his party's New Year's reception in Wiesbaden in conversation with journalists.

As reported, a number of European countries are applying for the authority, which could employ around 250 people.

It is expected to be established this year and to be fully operational by the end of 2025.

Ewald Hetrodt

Correspondent for the Rhein-Main-Zeitung in Wiesbaden.

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At Lindner's side, Stefan Naas, the Liberals' top candidate in the state elections, demanded more commitment from the Hessian Minister of Economics, Tarek Al-Wazir (The Greens).

The country is falling behind as a business location in the key parameters, said Naas.

It goes with the fact that the black-green state government is obviously not in a position to agree on filling the seat on the board of the Bundesbank to which Hesse is entitled.

The Federal Minister of Finance linked his politics to Frankfurt as a location, but also acted as an election campaigner.

She and the SPD would have to decide whether his cabinet colleague Nancy Faeser would run as the top candidate for the Social Democrats.

The voters will then decide which job offer they choose under which conditions.

The federal interior minister and state chairwoman of the SPD wants to comment on her personal plans at the beginning of February at a closed conference of her party in Friedewald in East Hesse.

FDP no stirrup holder

"We want to be elected because of our program," emphasized Lindner.

If the coalition question arises for his party after the election, the Hessian state association has “completely free hand” in the selection of alliance partners independent of the traffic light alliance in Berlin.

Lindner showed no preference.

When it was pointed out that he himself had sought an alliance with the CDU before the federal election, he responded with the words: "That was a different phase."

Governing with the CDU is “not easier, but different”.

For the FDP, it depends on who they can use to push through most of the content of their program.

"Anyone who sees us only as a stirrup holder for others, please vote for your favorite party."