FDP chief Christian Dürr withdraws, backs Wolfgang Kubicki
Dürr steps aside as Wolfgang Kubicki mounts a bid for the FDP chair, with NRW leader Henning Höne also in the race.
Apr 5, 2026, 12:47 PM EDT
Why it matters:
The FDP is scrambling to rebuild after two crushing state elections and a failed bid to return to the Bundestag. A leadership contest could set the party’s direction and tone for the next election cycle.
The latest:
- FDP chair Christian Dürr withdrew his candidacy for the party chair and said he will support Wolfgang Kubicki, a party spokeswoman confirmed to the DPA, citing Bild. “I have no doubt that the FDP will be successful again,” Dürr said, adding that a “closed formation” is the prerequisite and that Kubicki “has what it takes.” - Longtime deputy Wolfgang Kubicki, 74, said he will offer the delegates a plan to make the party successful again and is positioning himself for the May party congress. - NRW FDP leader Henning Höne confirmed he will also run, framing it as a “restart” for the party. - The entire federal board is set to resign at the May party congress, paving the way for a full leadership renewal.
The backdrop:
- The FDP failed to clear the 5% threshold in Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate in March, exiting both state parliaments. - The party is not represented in the Bundestag since the February 2025 election, after the “traffic light” coalition collapsed and former chair Christian Lindner stepped down. - The party now polls around 3% nationally and faces key state elections in Saxony-Anhalt, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and Berlin in September.
What they're saying:
- “I have no doubt that the FDP will be successful again… I will support Wolfgang Kubicki and will not run,” Dürr said. - “I will make an offer to my party’s delegates in May… I will do everything to make the party successful again,” Kubicki said. - “The FDP needs a restart,” Höne said, welcoming the competition. - “Now is not the time for personal vanity… The FDP must be led by a new generation, not just by old warhorses,” said Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, backing Höne.
The risk:
- A split between the “old guard” and a younger, more confrontational camp could prolong the party’s slump and delay a coherent strategy.
The bottom line:
Dürr’s withdrawal clears the way for a Kubicki–Höne showdown that could define the FDP’s comeback path.