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Djir-Sarai confirmed as new General Secretary of Germany’s FDP

Foreign affairs politician Bijan Djir-Sarai was confirmed as the new General Secretary of Germany's liberal Free Democratic Party (FDP) on Saturday.

Published: 23 April 2022 18:31 CEST
Incoming General Secretary of the Free Democratic Party (FDP) Bijan Djir-Sarai (L) receives a pat on the back from his predecessor Volker Wissing (R)
Incoming General Secretary of the Free Democratic Party (FDP) Bijan Djir-Sarai (L) receives a pat on the back from his predecessor Volker Wissing (R) after his election was confirmed on April 23, 2022. (Photo by John MACDOUGALL / AFP)

The 45-year-old politician from North Rhine-Westphalia received 89 percent of the votes at Saturday’s federal party conference in Berlin. 

He has been acting General Secretary since December after the board and committee approved FDP leader (and German Finance Minister) Christian Lindner’s nomination of him for the post.

READ MORE: German finance minister tests positive for Covid during US trip

He is succeeding Volker Wissing, who is Digital and Transport Minister in the new coalition government.

Djir-Sarai said he would “never, never, never” be a government spokesman.

“My mission is FDP. My mission is a successful FDP,” he said.

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POLITICS

Austrian far-right radical Sellner wins German ban battle

Radical Austrian nationalist Martin Sellner on Friday won a legal battle against an entry ban imposed by Germany following his meeting with the far-right AfD that sparked an uproar in the country.

Published: 1 June 2024 08:57 CEST
Austrian far-right radical Sellner wins German ban battle

Sellner had triggered outrage in Germany after allegedly discussing the Identitarian concept of “remigration” with members of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) at a meeting in Potsdam in November.

The city of Potsdam subsequently imposed a ban on Sellner entering Germany.

But the administrative court in Brandenburg state on Friday found in favour of Sellner’s appeal against the prohibition.

READ ALSO: Germany issues entry ban to Austrian far-right activist Sellner

“A real and sufficiently serious threat to public order and public security… was not demonstrated” by the authorities which had initiated the ban, said the court in a statement.

Welcoming the ruling, Sellner wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that he “will return to Germany soon and will push more and louder than ever on remigration and deislamisation”.

Sellner’s Identitarian Movement espouses the far-right white nationalist Great Replacement conspiracy theory.

READ ALSO: EXPLAINED: Who is Austria’s far right figure head banned across Europe?

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