FDP politician Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann is leading her party as the top candidate in the European elections in June. The defense expert received the support of 90 percent of the delegates to the European Party Congress for her candidacy in Berlin, as the party conference presidium announced. 553 delegates voted for it, with 50 voting against and 10 abstentions.
At the start of the party conference, FDP party leader Christian Lindner described Strack-Zimmermann as a high-profile and controversial personality who was needed to represent German interests in Brussels and Strasbourg. It is also a “declaration of war” to all those who want to turn the EU freedom project into a bureaucratic stronghold, he said. He called her a “Eurofighter.”
The 65-year-old has been a member of the Bundestag since 2017 and has also been chairwoman of the Defense Committee since 2021. The Düsseldorf native and mother of three children is known for arguing passionately for her goals – such as arms aid for Ukraine.
Lindner: “There’s a lot at stake on June 9th”
In his speech, Lindner warned urgently against turning the European elections on June 9th into a lesson for the established parties and against voting for the AfD. “There’s a lot at stake on June 9th. It’s not a protest, but a design election on June 9th,” he said. The AfD is a threat to civil values and democracy. She wants to turn the European Union into a “quarry”.
Lindner pointed out Europe’s difficulties in ensuring its own security, competitiveness and regulating migration. “The problems are so big that they can either be solved at European level or they remain unsolved.”
The FDP leader and Federal Finance Minister called on the EU states to invest more in their security and improve common military capabilities. “Not against NATO, not without Washington, but we must be able to defend the European Union, our values and interests even in cases of doubt.” This also includes closer cooperation between the fragmented European arms industry.
