political party issues content overhaul following election failure
The Free Democrats (FDP) have embarked on a content renewal process, including a member survey, as the starting point for the development of a new fundamental program. This move comes after the party failed to clear the 5% hurdle in the February 2022 federal election, receiving 4.3% of the second votes.
The surveys aim to gather input from FDP's 70,000 members and citizens on various topics, including challenges they face, sources of hope, and their vision for Germany in 2040. The party will use artificial intelligence in the development of its new fundamental program, a first for the FDP.
The surveys are the starting point for the development of a new fundamental program, with the ideas gained flowing into the work of the program commission. The FDP's survey is accessible via their app for members and will be available on their website for citizens later.
The key political concerns and expectations identified by the FDP in their member and public survey revolve around the need for pragmatic governance to address current challenges, renewing credibility, and an emphasis on libertarian values such as tax breaks, deregulation, and civil liberties, with a focus on appealing primarily to business and professional classes.
The FDP seeks to renew its fundamental program recognizing the complexities after their recent coalition experience in government, where issues such as infighting within the "Ampel" coalition (SPD, Greens, FDP), economic setbacks including recession fears, and constitutional challenges to key financial measures (like the constitutional debt brake) have influenced voter and member expectations for clearer and more coherent political directions.
Credibility and trust remain crucial concerns, especially following controversial decisions, such as parts of FDP voting alongside right-wing parties on asylum policy tightening, which complicated their political identity and public perception. The party is thus expected to clarify and reaffirm its liberal economic and civil freedom principles, restore political credibility, and focus on pragmatic governance to better respond to Germany’s current political, economic, and social issues during its renewal process.
The upcoming state elections in Baden-Württemberg (March 8, 2023) and Rhineland-Pfalz (March 22, 2023) will serve as the first major tests for the FDP since the content renewal process began. A poor performance in these state elections could potentially hinder the nationwide revival of the Liberals.
The new general secretary of the FDP, Nicole Büttner, is an entrepreneur and manager of a Berlin AI company. The new fundamental program aims to help the FDP return to the path of success in the next federal election and will be decided at the federal party conference in May next year.
The FDP is using their member and public survey as a means to gather input on key political concerns and expectations, focusing on pragmatic governance, renewing credibility, and prioritizing libertarian values. The party's new fundamental program, developed with the aid of artificial intelligence, aims to help the FDP regain political success and credibility, particularly in upcoming state elections in Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Pfalz, and will be solidified at the federal party conference in May next year.
The FDP's survey covers various topics such as challenges facing society, sources of hope, and a vision for Germany in 2040, which form the basis for the development of a new policy-and-legislation agenda, integrating politics and general-news considerations as well as the need for strategic adjustments post-coalition and recent setbacks.
