FDP Secretary General Reveals Controversial Detail Regarding 'D-Day Document'

In a recent revelation, Marco Buschmann, the newly appointed Secretary General of the Free Democratic Party (FDP), acknowledged that the term 'D-Day' may have been discussed in internal party meetings, particularly regarding the potential end of the current coalition government. Buschmann stated that he cannot completely dismiss the idea that someone might have mentioned this term during the past months of discussions.

However, he downplayed the significance of such terminology, noting that other politicians have also employed similar metaphors. For instance, he referenced Olaf Scholz's use of 'Bazooka,' a term associated with a powerful weapon, and pointed out Angela Merkel's description of a political struggle as an 'open field battle' against the previous Schröder administration.

Buschmann emphasized the importance of applying 'human standards' when evaluating the use of such expressions by party members in their personal notes. He clarified that he first encountered the so-called 'D-Day document' only when it was publicly released by the FDP itself.

The now-resigned General Secretary Carsten Reymann had reportedly assured Buschmann that the document was created solely as a personal checklist for potential future scenarios. Buschmann asserted that the document was never presented in any decision-making meetings he attended.

While discussions about various scenarios did take place, none of these discussions explicitly utilized the term 'D-Day.' Furthermore, Buschmann refuted claims that FDP Chairman Christian Lindner commissioned the document as a strategy for breaking the coalition. He stated that the reality within the FDP leadership was a willingness to dissolve the coalition if it was deemed necessary for advancing better policies for the country.

As the party looks ahead to the 2025 federal elections, Buschmann reiterated the importance of Lindner's leadership. When asked if there were alternatives to Lindner's role, he acknowledged that while no one is irreplaceable, Lindner is recognized as a strong leader with significant internal cohesion capabilities.

This discussion follows investigations by prominent news outlets, which reported on excerpts from a multi-page document originating from the FDP headquarters. The findings suggested that the FDP had been preparing for a potential exit from the coalition for several months, with the document containing military terminology such as 'D-Day' and 'open field battle.' In response to mounting pressure from these investigations, the FDP chose to release the document to the public.