Christian Lindner: “A pinch of Milei and Musk would definitely be good for our country,” says the former finance minister

These are turbulent days for Christian Lindner. First the traffic light coalition fell apart, now he is under increasing pressure in the wake of the D-Day affair. He is now even confronted with calls from within his own ranks to resign as FDP chairman.

A visit to the Axel Springer high-rise in Berlin on Tuesday evening was probably a welcome change for the former finance minister. At the Founder Scene Awards, where successful startups were honored, Lindner gave the opening speech – and right at the beginning gave an insight into his inner life.

“Being among optimistic and confident people builds me up,” he said to the around 70 founders in the room. In this context, Lindner spoke of a “time full of deprivation.” Whether he meant the situation in the country or his personal situation remained unclear.

Lindner did not mention D-Day or other political lines of conflict. He focused his speech all the more energetically on Germany as a business location and emphasized the importance of startups for society. “Where should all the future-proof jobs be created if not in highly innovative companies,” he asked rhetorically. Supporting founders is an “investment in the future viability of our country.”

However, the mentality in Germany is still too often characterized by a lack of risk. “A pinch of Milei and Musk, a little disruption, willingness to take risks, willingness to change and innovative strength would definitely be good for our country,” he alluded to the Argentine president and the US entrepreneur. Linder had already made similar comments on the ARD program Caren Miosga on Sunday evening. This time he added that he meant the mentality and not “certain forms of hard-edged harshness” as a model. Milei and Musk are controversial internationally.

In Germany there is already a lot of theoretical competence, said Lindner. “Few people know that in Germany we have a density of chairs and research institutions in the field of artificial intelligence that is remarkable, even by international standards.” These are “excellent.” But too often the theoretical considerations end up in the archives.

For many top scientists in Germany, the primary goal is to become a professor. At the international elite universities, however, top scientists would also want to become entrepreneurs. That has to be changed.

This requires a different incentive model. It must be made easier for universities to support scientists in setting up companies – for example with shares in the corresponding startups.

At the end, Linder expanded on his political remarks. Technology and talent are important, but the social climate is the most important prerequisite for a successful business location.

He also looked ahead to the federal election in February and appealed to those present: “We must not forget one thing. Despite all the dissatisfaction with the status quo: liberal democracy, which is cosmopolitan and tolerant, has proven itself and is at the same time the prerequisite for economic success.” Whatever is chosen in Germany: “Please not the edges.”

Founder scene is part of Business Insider Germany, which, like WELT, belongs to Axel Springer.

Nicolas Walter is a volunteer at WELT. Among other things, he reports on foreign policy, migration and political extremism.