After the latest federal elections in Germany, the Democratic Liberal Party (FDP) has been left out of Parliament again. This exit is not only an episode of German internal policy, but marks the loss of the only openly liberal voice in the main European economy at a time of great transformations. The disappearance of institutional liberalism of the German parliamentary scenario raises questions about the future of the European model and about the role that Germany will play in the promotion of liberal values globally. The country is going through a silent crossroads. While the new “great coalition”, composed of traditional blocks, promises continuity, the country’s structural tensions accumulate. A population that ages, an increasingly expensive welfare system, a labor market with migratory pressure and increasing indebtedness that puts tax sustainability at risk. Far from promoting deep reforms, the new government resists change. The consequences of this paralysis are projected beyond its borders. Germany for decades was a reference of stability and fiscal responsibility in the European Union. Its current reluctance to face structural transformations could weaken European leadership in a context of growing populism, political polarization and pressure on public spending throughout the region. Liberalism today crosses an opportunity that cannot be missing. The defense of constitutional democracy, the rule of law, open markets and individual responsibility remains, more than ever, the basis on which to build a sustainable future. Liberal movements in Latin America are going against the countercurrent and fight to make their way through the polarization of the electorate and populist promises, both left and right. Therefore, the recent departure of the Bundestag liberals also resonates in the region, and reflects the global challenge of convincing voters with real solutions, away from simplifications that have little to do with reality. While liberalism organized in Germany is going through a reconstruction process, other examples arise – like that of Canada – that have brought encouraging surprises. In this context, the decline of the FDP charges another dimension. Its agenda – reformed of the pension system towards mixed models, fiscal relief to the middle class, modernization of the State with focus on innovation and education – aims to balance a social contract that today punishes new generations. The fact that this message has not impacted among voters evidences a broader dilemma: can liberal ideas compete with promises of immediate well -being in times of uncertainty? What happens today in Germany can anticipate future discussions in other democracies. The tension between unsustainable social spending and the need for unpopular reforms is a constant. Germany, as an axis of the European order, which decides – or does not decide – will have consequences for the political course of the continent, and therefore, for the global ideological order. For liberals, inside and outside Europe, the challenge is clear: renew its narrative, adapt to the new times and return to offer specific solutions to the background problems. The Bundestag FDP output should not be read as an end, but as a call for attention. Liberal reconstruction in Germany can be the first step towards a broader renewal of global liberal thought.
