Mr. Christ, you want to found the association “Liberal Future for Berlin”. What is the need for such an organization next to the FDP?
We are close to the FDP and share many values, but we don’t want to tie commitment to Berlin to party membership – I sense a huge interest in those around me to get involved. A lot of people want to get involved with Berlin, but not directly in a party. Many are looking for a docking station where they can get involved. We want to be a platform for “Our Berlin”: complaining is one thing, but helping to shape it will be our strength. Our movement is therefore open to all democratic citizens who are committed to the values of the social market economy and do not belong to the extreme fringe.
You were active in the SPD at the federal level for a long time, until last year you were FDP federal treasurer. Why are you now involved at the Berlin state level?
I’ve lived in Berlin since 2001 and the city hasn’t developed any further, especially in recent years – on the contrary, many things are constantly getting worse. The city government regularly promises a lot. The problems, for example, in the areas of security, school and education, affordable rents, more living space, traffic, functioning administration, have been known for years. I know many who are considering moving or have already moved. Citizens who are resigned and who despair of the miserable Berlin city politics. There is a complete lack of confidence that the Senate will get the problems under control. The new black-red coalition will not change that. The start of only electing the governing mayor in the third ballot is already a harbinger of what we can expect by 2026.
We will adopt clear substantive positions and we will strive for discussion formats, citizen dialogues and even referendums.
Harald Christ, entrepreneur and FDP politician
What do you intend to do with your club in the coming years?
The Senate will take us seriously: we will take clear positions on the content and we will strive for discussion formats, citizen dialogues and even referendums. We stand for a pragmatic, feasible policy for “our Berlin”. Berlin should develop positively – politics must serve the people. The association will not be a cardboard box event, but we want to start substantial initiatives – equipped with a broad network and financial resources.
In your founding call you speak of “maximum diversity” and the most constructive debates possible. Is that also a criticism of the previous line-up of the FDP?
Our association is not a criticism of the FDP – on the contrary. It’s much more about us in this city stopping counter-politics, politics for our own clientele. We don’t want any more ideological and dogmatic debates. Politics has largely let this city down for years. We therefore want to commit ourselves to a pragmatic policy for the city.
Climate neutrality as quickly as possible – that is another leitmotif of her association. Most recently, liberals were often more of a brake on climate protection. You want to change that?
Yes! Berlin must become climate-neutral as quickly as possible and with maximum effort. But always with an eye on what is feasible. We don’t want utopian goals that only sound good. Berlin will not be able to be climate-neutral in 2030, that is simply not possible and everyone knows that. We must not overtax people and companies along the way, especially not financially, that would be highly antisocial – this is particularly fatal in the heating debate at federal level.
Why do you think the FDP’s re-entry into the House of Representatives failed?
Sebastian Czaja and the Berlin FDP campaigned very actively. In the end, from my point of view, the relative strength of the CDU and the lack of government options failed. That was very tactical voting behavior at the expense of the FDP. It is the only party not to blame for the failure of the state governments in recent decades, after all it was not involved. Take a look at the current coalition agreement between the CDU and SPD: there will be no real change in politics in Berlin without a liberal, middle-class party. I will remind you of my words in three years!
What role should the club play with a view to the 2026 election?
We will not deny the proximity to the FDP and it is important for Berlin that the party is represented again in the House of Representatives, preferably in the city government. Over the next few weeks we will work together to determine what role the association can and wants to take on. I am grateful that Secretary General Lars Lindemann supports me as co-chair.
And you yourself?
I myself do not plan to get involved directly in party politics again and am not aiming for a mandate. I’ve been in politics for more than 35 years, I’m also a very political person and I think it’s important in a democracy to make your own contribution – but I can also get involved without having an office in mind. I care! Maybe that’s even more believable in the end.
