Overview

• Susanne Seehofer, daughter of former CSU premier Horst Seehofer, narrowly won a seat in the FDP presidium, defeating Daniela Schmitt by seven votes.
• Nicole Büttner, a business-sector newcomer, was elected as the FDP's new secretary general, signaling a shift toward professional diversity in leadership.
• The revamped presidium combines veteran leaders like Wolfgang Kubicki and Michael Link with newcomers to balance reformist ambitions and experience.
• Seehofer emphasized the need for bold reforms, distancing herself from the CSU's conservatism and advocating for economic pragmatism as a foundation for social policies.
• The FDP's leadership overhaul is part of a strategy to rebuild voter confidence ahead of critical state and local elections in 2026.