Investigating Possible FDP Impulses in Germany’s European Policy

The likely junior partner in Germany’s new coalition, the FDP, achieved a historically strong result with 14.6 percent of the votes on Sunday. For the first time in eleven years, it is set to join the federal government. Given its strong result, FDP chairman Guido Westerwelle will reach out for key portfolios in the upcoming coalition negotiations, including some which will play a role in key German European affairs matters.

Traditionally, the smaller coalition partner in the German government takes the Foreign Ministry. The FDP chairman is hence seen as the most likely candidate for the post of Foreign Minister. Foreign or European affairs were strikingly absent from this summer’s electoral campaign, which started shortly after the June 2009 European Parliamentary elections. With the exception of the Linkspartei which advocates a swift withdrawal from Afghanistan, none of the parties sought profile through foreign or European policy issues. Unsurprisingly, the FDP does not diverge decisively from the European policy conducted by the outgoing grand coalition.

ISPI: Commentary: Investigating Possible FDP Impulses in Germany’s European Policy [PDF] http://www.ispionline.it/sites/default/files/pubblicazioni/commentary_schwarzer_29_sett_2009.pdf

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