Christian Lindner

Messages disclosed following freedom of information litigation showed that Lindner had asked Porsche CEO Oliver Blume for help developing arguments on synthetic fuels. The affair fuelled suspicions of privileged influence by the car manufacturer.

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Directly implicated

Following the collapse of the coalition, internal FDP documents revealed detailed planning for potential scenarios of withdrawal, using terms including 'D-Day' and 'offene Feldschlacht'. The affair triggered resignations within the party organisation.

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Questions arose after Lindner recorded an official message for BBBank while benefiting from private mortgage financing from that bank. Berlin prosecutors examined whether a benefit might have been linked to his official duties.

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Directly implicated

Funding for Kindergrundsicherung publicly pitted Lindner against Family Minister Lisa Paus for several months. Initial differences in cost estimates were considerable, and social organisations criticised the final compromise as inadequate.

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Lindner's wedding on Sylt sparked controversy over extravagance and political appearances during an economic crisis, as well as security arrangements and a religious ceremony despite neither spouse being a church member.

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Under Lindner's leadership, the FDP withdrew from coalition negotiations with the CDU/CSU and Greens, ending the proposed 'Jamaika' coalition. His phrase that it was better not to govern than to govern badly became emblematic of an extremely controversial decision.

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Christian Lindner unexpectedly resigned as federal FDP Secretary-General while the party was experiencing a crisis over the European Stability Mechanism and an internal referendum. The press also documented tensions with Philipp Rösler.

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Political responsibility