FDP Secretary General Bijan Djir-Sarai resigned on Friday following the fallout from the controversial “D-Day paper.” He admitted to “unknowingly” providing false information about the internal document. Shortly after, party chairman Carsten Reymann also stepped down.
The “D-Day paper,” published Thursday, revealed detailed plans for undermining the FDP’s coalition with Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s SPD and the Greens. The document outlined strategies for a “start of open field battle” and described the “ideal time” to exit the coalition. The eight-page document was mistakenly posted on the FDP website, sparking backlash.
Fallout from the Coalition Collapse
The scandal has shifted public perception of the coalition’s collapse in early November. Many now blame the FDP, rather than Chancellor Scholz, for the breakup. The paper’s revelations align with findings from a recent Infratest survey, where 40% of Germans held the FDP responsible.
The document adds pressure to the FDP leadership, suggesting their departure was premeditated. Chancellor Scholz, initially criticized for dismissing Finance Minister Christian Lindner, may gain sympathy in light of these developments. This misstep has left the FDP facing severe public and political scrutiny.