Coalition partner FDP rattles German gov't over immigration, energy | Eastern NC Now

The Free Democrats (FDP) are the odd partner in Germany's "traffic light coaltion" (red, green, yellow) of the Social Democrats, Green Party, and FDP. Prior to becoming a coalition partner of two parties considerably to their left, the FDP had taken stands on many issues, including energy and immigration, to the right of the previously governing Christian Democrats (CDU).  The FDP just took a major hit in state elections in the important state of Lower Saxony for their alignment with parties of the left, losing half of their votes and all of their state government seats.

Now the FDP is becoming vocal on its policy disagreements with its two larger coalition partners on key issues like immigration and energy.  The question is whether this diversion will brreak the coalition and lead to a new election.  If the FDP bolts, the government loses its majority.

The FDP's deputy leader Christian Linder, in an interview with the major German daily Bild blasted the immigration policies of his coalition partners that have allowed 1.2 million migrants into the country  as "an absolute piece from the madhouse".   He called the government's plans to close nuclear power plants and stop gas production in the North Sea "the biggest toad the FDP has swallowed."  Linder said the FDP would be more aggressive in combatting the leftwing policies of its partners.

https://rmx.news/germany/germanys-migration-policy-is-from-the-madhouse-says-fdp-deputy-leader-about-his-own-coalition-government/

Meanwhile the new center-right Alliance Party has been organized to represent the views of the middle class, intended to occupy the political space between the leftward moving CDU and the populist right AfD.  The party's new national chairman is the former state chairman of the Saxony Free Voters, a center-right alignment, and includes politicians who have defected from both the CDU and AfD.

https://europeanconservative.com/articles/news/new-center-right-party-formed-in-germany/