NATIONAL FDP MEETS IN STUTTGART, SEEKS TO REPRESENT "THE

UNCLAS FRANKFURT 000171 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/AGS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV GM SUBJECT: NATIONAL FDP MEETS IN STUTTGART, SEEKS TO REPRESENT "THE FORGOTTEN MIDDLE CLASS" ¶1. SUMMARY: At this year's annual "Three Kings" gathering of the national Free Democratic Party (FDP) on January 6 in Stuttgart, party leader Guido Westerwelle used the occasion to stake out a middle-of-the-road course for his party -- seeking to change the reputation of the FDP as a party for the well-to-do elite who lack a social conscience to a party which represents the interests of Germany's middle class. At the same time, he revived his vision of turning the FDP into Germany's third "Volkspartei" (major political party). END SUMMARY. -------------- -------------- FDP Reaches Out to Germany's "Forgotten Middle Class" -------------- -------------- ¶2. The FDP continued a 141 year tradition of German liberals (forebears of the modern FDP) meeting on "Three Kings Day" (Epiphany) to kick off the political year. In his policy speech, Westerwelle criticized the national government for having lost its inner compass. He complained that, while politicians address the needs of upper and lower income groups, as well as fringe elements on the left and right of the political spectrum, inadequate attention is given to the middle class. Striking a populist tone, Westerwelle argued that the middle class pays the lion's share of taxes and other social costs, and that German society is based upon ordinary citizens who get up in the morning, raise their children, go to work, and save money to pay the mortgage. "The FDP wants to be the advocate for this forgotten middle class" Westerwelle proclaimed. Referring to the recent public exchange between national SPD leader/Rheinland-Pfalz Minister-President Kurt Beck and unemployed Hartz IV recipient Henrico Frank, Westerwelle stated that people who refuse several job offers should not be supported by others' taxes. Westerwelle also sharply attacked the 30% pay increase for Siemens management while, at the same time, thousands of Siemens employees are threatened with the loss of their jobs. "This behavior does not represent the social market economy; it is a slandering of the social market economy." -------------- Too Many German Troops Abroad -------------- ¶3. On foreign policy and engagement abroad, Westerwelle criticized the lack of an overall foreign affairs strategy from the national government. He believes Germany's strengths in the world are its economic importance, its humanitarian assistance, and its discrete diplomacy. Westerwelle repeated his position that military force should be the last resort rather than a starting point. Westerwelle called upon the Grand Coalition not to cave in to pressures from abroad for expanded use of the German military. In the case of Afghanistan, he said that Germany has fulfilled its obligation and done what they were sent there to accomplish. In a thinly-veiled critique of coalition forces in southern Afghanistan, Westerwelle said "it is not our problem, if others have failed with their strategy of dropping bombs." -------------- -------------- FDP - A People's Party - Revival of an Old Project -------------- -------------- ¶4. Westerwelle announced that the FDP will continue to fight for a change of government and to work for a fairer and simpler tax system, less bureaucracy and a reform of the social system. Reminding the audience that 2006 was an extremely successful year for the Liberals in all four state elections, Westerwelle pointed out that, after the CDU and the SPD, the FDP is only the third German party that is successful in both East and West in contrast to the west-based Greens, the eastern PDS, and the Bavaria-only CSU. "What the CDU and SPD are losing will be absorbed by the FDP," he concluded, saying that the FDP must reach out to new groups within the German electorate. ¶5. COMMENT: Westerwelle's goals of changing the image of the FDP and to turn it into a third "Volkspartei" are not new. He broached similar ideas several years ago under the slogan "Project 18" (meaning at least 18% for the FDP),but without success. The situation has changed since then. Westerwelle has established the party as the most prominent opposition voice. The Greens are still struggling with their role as an opposition party and have not yet recovered from the departure of former Foreign Minister Fischer from politics. The Linkspartei.PDS has not been able to gain widespread acceptance in the west. The FDP hopes to profit from a growing number of voters who are disappointed with the performance of the Grand Coalition. It remains to be seen how successful the FDP will be in attracting these voters in future elections. In the meantime, Westerwelle will continue his attempt to recast the FDP as the party of Germany's "forgotten" middle class. END COMMENT. ¶6. This cable has been coordinated with Embassy Berlin. POWELL