(Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Christian Lindner, ex-Finance Minister, demonstrated negotiation skills at a charity gala, donating 2,000 euros alongside other notable figures.
Ex-Finance Minister Christian Lindner from the Free Democratic Party demonstrated himself to be a proficient negotiator at the “A Heart for Children” gala. When comedian Hazel Brugger spontaneously questioned several distinguished guests for charitable donations, the FDP leader countered:
“You know my professional situation.”
Christian Lindner was the Federal Minister of Finance from 8 December 2021 to 7 November 2024. On 6 November 2024, Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz released Lindner from his position. Scholz reasons that a joint coalition proved unattainable. Chancellor Olaf Scholz discharged Lindner as minister a month ago following the failure of the traffic light coalition.
Lindner, attending with his wife, journalist Franca Lehfeldt, finally decided to donate 2,000 euros. With this sum, he was in line with Bavaria’s Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU), whom comic Ralf Schmitz had previously called on to donate.
Moreover, Toni Kroos contributed a significantly higher sum, and Schmitz was initially incapable of teasing out a specific amount from Friedrich Merz: instead, the CDU leader made a complicated computation. He essentially declared that his donation would be proportional to the Union’s future poll ratings. After the broadcast, Merz then reported that he would donate 4,000 euros.
SPD leader Lars Klingbeil, who was the very first to be reached by the comedian duo, entered the fundraising donations with 500 euros. All politicians were far outweighed by footballer Toni Kroos, who reported a donation of 100,000 euros without batting an eyelid.
