GERMANY’S FREE Democratic Party (FDP) has yet to overcome “the worst structural crisis in its history”, former leader Hans-Dietrich Genscher has warned.
The words from the FDP honorary chairman can be read as a warning to Guido Westerwelle, who is determined to remain foreign minister despite agreeing to stand down as party leader next month.
After drawing the consequences from a series of electoral disasters, Mr Westerwelle has gone on the offensive to secure his position in Berlin.
The move was interpreted as an attempt to tie the hands of designated leader Philip Rösler, forcing him to keep the current FDP front bench ahead of the general election in 2013.
But Mr Genscher, the FDP’s oracle-in-chief, has said it would be wrong to rob Mr Rösler of the right to renew the party’s political programme and personnel.
“Rösler is not pushing himself to the front but he is shouldering his responsibility, and that in the FDP’s worst structural crisis since its foundation,” wrote Mr Genscher in yesterday’s Tagesspiegel daily.
“Is that all, some have asked?” In answer, the elder statesman predicted that Mr Rösler could reform the party into a “New FDP”, but only if personnel changes were part of the process.
“No one who wants a ‘New FDP’ can expect Mr Rösler to pull new personnel out of his sleeve in 48 hours,” wrote Mr Genscher. “First a clear liberal concept is required . . . Only then can the decisions about personalities be made.
“The programme should not be oriented around the persons, rather the persons have to stand for the programme. For Rösler it’s a matter of credibility – and rightly so.”
Mr Genscher’s words put him at odds with Mr Westerwelle, who has signalled to the FDP that, despite the loss of the party leadership and his vice-chancellor title, he is not to be written off.
At the last meeting he chaired as FDP leader he forced a spontaneous vote on his position, that of economics minister Rainer Brüderle and Bundestag chief whip Birgit Homberger.
Like Mr Westerwelle, both were viewed as damaged goods – Mr Brüderle in particular for indiscretions on government nuclear policy that cost the FDP dear in last month’s state elections.
“I want to know very clearly – I have a right to that,” said Mr Westerwelle to a parliamentary party meeting. “Not out of friendship or thanks but because I am doing a successful job and anyone who is of another opinion should change that.”
After describing how much he enjoyed working as foreign minister, and with no apparent objections, Mr Westerwelle said he took this to mean his position “is valid for the rest of the electoral term”.
It remains to be seen if the final word has been spoken. A new opinion poll indicated doubts that Mr Rösler could turn his party around with the old Westerwelle guard.
Support for Chancellor Merkel’s junior partner has fallen to just three per cent, the lowest level in the FDP’s 63-year history.