Christian Lindner

Christian Lindner was born in Wuppertal, West Germany. His father Wolfgang Lindner is a teacher of mathematics and computer science at the Städtisches Gymnasium in Wermelskirchen.

After graduating from Gymnasium in 1998 and an alternative civilian service, Christian Lindner studied political science at the University of Bonn from 1999 to 2006.{{cite web|url=http://www.fernuni-hagen.de/universitaet/aktuelles/2008/06/30-ak-sprint-studium-mathe.shtml |title=Im Sprint ins Ziel: Mathematik in vier Semestern – Juni – Universität – FernUniversität in Hagen |access-date=24 March 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101217060237/http://fernuni-hagen.de/universitaet/aktuelles/2008/06/30-ak-sprint-studium-mathe.shtml |archive-date=17 December 2010}} After eleven semesters he acquired the academic degree of Magister Artium (M.A). In his master's thesis at the Institute of Political Science, he dealt with the topic: "Tax competition and revenue sharing. Can the financial constitution be reformed?"(In german: Steuerwettbewerb und Finanzausgleich. Kann die Finanzverfassung reformiert werden?), »Bambi« legt los., Der Spiegel, 29 November 2004. In 2006, he began writing his dissertation under supervision from political science professor Frank Decker, which he has so far not completed due to his political activities.Daniel Dettling (Hrsg.): Minima Moralia der nächsten Gesellschaft. Standpunkte eines neuen Generationenvertrags. VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, Wiesbaden 2009, {{ISBN|978-3-531-16475-5}}, S. 168.

While studying, Lindner became a reserve officer in the German Air Force. In 2002, he was promoted to First Lieutenant (Oberleutnant) in the Reserve. In 2008 he was a liaison officer to the state command Landeskommando of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia in Düsseldorf. Since September 2011 he has held the rank of Captain (Hauptmann) in the Reserve.Verbindungsoffizier zum Landeskommando. In: Rheinische Post. 26 July 2008.{{cite web|url=https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/deutschland/luftwaffenreserve-de-maiziere-befoerdert-lindner-zum-hauptmann/4617000.html |title=De Maizière befördert Lindner zum Hauptmann |trans-title=De Maizière promotes Lindner to captain |work=Handelsblatt |date=16 September 2011|archive-date=6 February 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120206094920/https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/deutschland/luftwaffenreserve-de-maiziere-befoerdert-lindner-zum-hauptmann/4617000.html

| url-status=live}} Currently, Lindner is a Major in the Air Force.{{Cite web|title=Christian Lindner CV English|url=https://www.christian-lindner.de/sites/default/files/2021-07/CV%20english.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726092643/https://www.christian-lindner.de/sites/default/files/2021-07/CV%20english.pdf |archive-date=26 July 2021}}

Lindner joined the FDP in 1995. He has been a member of the executive board of the FDP in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia since 1998 and became Secretary General in 2004 (until February 2010).{{Cite web|title =Christian_Lindner_englisch.pdf|url = https://www.christian-lindner.de/sites/default/files/2021-07/CV%20english.pdf|website = www.christian-lindner.de|access-date = 23 May 2015 |archive-date=24 July 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724151115/https://www.christian-lindner.de/sites/default/files/2021-07/CV%20english.pdf

| url-status=live}} At the May 2000 election for the Landtag of North Rhine-Westphalia, the 21-year old Lindner was elected, becoming the youngest MP in the history of the state parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia. Lindner was from 2000 initially 'spokesman for Intergenerational Affairs, Family and Integration' and then from 2005 to 2009 was also vice chairman of the FDP parliamentary group in the parliament and spokesman for Innovation, Science and Technology. In 2007 he also became a member of the federal executive board of the FDP.

From 2009 Lindner was a member of the German Bundestag. In the negotiations to form a coalition government following the 2009 federal elections, he was part of the FDP delegation in the working group on families, integration of immigrants and culture, led by Maria Böhmer and Hans-Joachim Otto.

From December 2009 until his surprise resignation{{cite web|url=http://www.thelocal.de/politics/20111214-39497.html|title=FDP general secretary Lindner resigns|date=14 December 2011|archive-date=11 March 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140311193006/http://www.thelocal.de/politics/20111214-39497.html

| url-status=dead}} in December 2011, Lindner was also Secretary General of the FDP on federal level, largely under the leadership of party chairman Guido Westerwelle and later under Philipp Rösler when Westerwelle had to resign. Lindner's resignation was caused by an internal party vote which had been forced by a group centered around the Eurosceptic FDP parliamentarian Frank Schäffler to determine the FDP's future course on questions pertaining to the European Stability Mechanism (ESM).{{cite news |url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/senior-fdp-official-resigns-merkel-s-coalition-partner-falls-further-into-crisis-a-803660.html |title=Senior FDP Official Resigns: Merkel's Coalition Partner Falls Further into Crisis |work=Spiegel Online |date=14 December 2011|archive-date=16 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116202433/http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/senior-fdp-official-resigns-merkel-s-coalition-partner-falls-further-into-crisis-a-803660.html

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Lindner was later chosen to chair the North Rhine-Westphalian FDP in the 2012 state election of North Rhine-Westphalia, succeeding Daniel Bahr.{{cite web|url=http://www.landtag.nrw.de/portal/WWW/Webmaster/GB_I/I.1/Abgeordnete/abgeordnetendetail.jsp?k=01404|title=Landtag NRW: Abgeordneter Christian Lindner|work =Landtag Nordrhein-Westfalen|access-date=23 September 2013|archive-date=13 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181213124753/https://www.landtag.nrw.de/portal/WWW/Webmaster/GB_I/I.1/Abgeordnete/abgeordnetendetail.jsp?k=01404|url-status=dead}} In the election, the FDP received 8.6% of the vote,{{cite web|url=http://www.wahlergebnisse.nrw.de/landtagswahlen/2012/aktuell/a0lw1200.html|title=Landtagswahl 2012 in NRW|website=www.wahlergebnisse.nrw.de |archive-date=26 September 2013| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926081557/http://www.wahlergebnisse.nrw.de/landtagswahlen/2012/aktuell/a0lw1200.html

| url-status=dead}} surpassing all expectations at the time as the party had been fighting over all the country to reach the minimum representation of 5% for years and was losing representation in several states.{{cite news |first=Nicholas |last=Kulish |date=13 May 2012 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/14/world/europe/in-rebuke-to-merkel-social-democrats-win-german-vote.html |title=In Rebuke to Merkel's Party, Social Democrats Win German Vote |work=The New York Times |archive-date=14 May 2012| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120514004119/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/14/world/europe/in-rebuke-to-merkel-social-democrats-win-german-vote.html

| url-status=live}} Following the party's victory at that election he was elected Parliamentary leader of the FDP in the North Rhine-Westphalian Landtag, succeeding Gerhard Papke on 15 May 2012, and worked in the opposition. In March 2013, he was elected one of Rösler's deputies, alongside Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger and Holger Zastrow.

Lindner was elected the new chairman of the FDP following the resignation of Chairman Philipp Rösler after the 2013 German federal elections{{cite web|url=https://www.tagesschau.de/wahl/fdp822.html|title=Aktuelle Nachrichten – Inland Ausland Wirtschaft Kultur Sport |website=tagesschau.de|archive-date=26 September 2013| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926162535/https://www.tagesschau.de/wahl/fdp822.html

| url-status=dead}} in which the FDP failed to clear the 5% hurdle to enter the Bundestag for the first time since 1949.{{cite web|url=http://www.dw.de/fdp-a-post-war-fixture-is-out-of-parliament/a-17106509|title=FDP, a post-war fixture, is out of parliament |website=DW.COM|archive-date=24 September 2013| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130924202511/http://www.dw.de/fdp-a-post-war-fixture-is-out-of-parliament/a-17106509

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Ahead of the 2014 European elections, Lindner and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte served as 'mediators' between Olli Rehn and Guy Verhofstadt, the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe's candidates for the presidency of the European Commission;{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.eu/article/alde-candidates/ |title=ALDE candidates |work=Politico |date=8 January 2014|archive-date=24 August 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824135756/http://www.politico.eu/article/alde-candidates/

| url-status=live}} eventually, the candidates agreed to jointly lead the ALDE's campaign for elections, with Verhofstadt running to succeed José Manuel Barroso.{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.eu/article/verhofstadt-rehn-agree-campaign-roles/ |title=ALDE candidates |work=Politico |date=20 January 2014|archive-date=24 August 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824135827/http://www.politico.eu/article/verhofstadt-rehn-agree-campaign-roles/

| url-status=live}} At the time, Lindner was widely regarded to support Rehn.{{cite web|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/0607ca9e-6bf2-11e3-85b1-00144feabdc0.html |title=ALDE candidates |work=Financial Times |date=2 January 2014|archive-date=2 January 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102164806/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/0607ca9e-6bf2-11e3-85b1-00144feabdc0.html

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Lindner was a FDP delegate to the Federal Convention for the purpose of electing the President of Germany in 2017, where he endorsed the government's candidate Frank-Walter Steinmeier.{{cite web|url=https://www.landtag.nrw.de/portal/WWW/dokumentenarchiv/Dokument/MMD16-13713.pdf |title=Wahl der Mitglieder für die 16. Bundesversammlung |trans-title=Election of members for the 16th Federal Assembly |work=Financial Times |date=14 December 2016|archive-date=20 December 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220193153/https://www.landtag.nrw.de/portal/WWW/dokumentenarchiv/Dokument/MMD16-13713.pdf |language=de | url-status=live}} That same year, he led his party's successful campaign for the 2017 state elections of North Rhine-Westphalia, which resulted in the FDP joining the state government of incoming Minister-President Armin Laschet. Lindner himself did not take a position in the new government because of his aim to lead the FDP back to the Bundestag in September 2017.

In the 2017 German federal election, Lindner led the FDP to achieve a result of 10.7%. After that success he was elected leader of the FDP parliamentary group in the Bundestag.

In October 2017, Angela Merkel's CDU and Katrin Göring-Eckardt's and Cem Özdemir's Greens started negotiations with the FDP to form a government, in which Lindner was widely seen as the future Minister of Finance, as the CDU had even nominated the former Minister Wolfgang Schäuble as President of the Bundestag to make place for the FDP. Such a coalition was the only realistic possibility to form a government (except for a Grand coalition) but had almost never been used before on any regional level in Germany. In November 2017, after midnight, Lindner and his party left the already prolonged negotiations after four unsuccessful weeks, which led to the longest government formation in German history and finally in March 2018 once more to a Grand Coalition with the SPD, which had previously rejected any participation in the new government.

In 2021 Christian Lindner was re-elected federal chairman of the FDP with 93 percent of the vote and at the same time was chosen as the party's top candidate for the federal election.{{Cite web |title=FDP-Vorsitzender Lindner auf Bundesparteitag wiedergewählt |trans-title=FDP Chairman Lindner re-elected at federal party conference |url=https://www.mdr.de/nachrichten/deutschland/politik/fdp-bundesparteitag-christian-lindner-wiederwahl-parteivorsitzender-100.html |access-date=5 July 2023 |website=MDR.DE |language=de|archive-date=21 April 2023| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230421162737/https://www.mdr.de/nachrichten/deutschland/politik/fdp-bundesparteitag-christian-lindner-wiederwahl-parteivorsitzender-100.html | url-status=live}}

Following the 2021 German federal election, the FDP agreed to enter government with the Greens and Social Democrats, as part of a traffic light coalition led by Olaf Scholz. Lindner was named as Finance Minister, and took office on 8 December 2021.{{cite web |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/meet-germany-new-government-scholz-cabinet/ |title=Meet Germany's new government |last=Posaner |first=Joshua |date=8 December 2021|website=Politico |access-date=26 December 2021|archive-date=8 December 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211208131028/https://www.politico.eu/article/meet-germany-new-government-scholz-cabinet/ |language=de | url-status=live}}

After the G7 countries announced that they would present strong sanctions against Russia, Lindner stated that they should target Russian oligarchs. He stated: "We are working on further sanctions. I am particularly concerned that the oligarchs should be affected. Those who have profited from Putin and stolen the wealth of the Russian people, including through corruption, should not be allowed to enjoy their prosperity in our Western democracies".{{cite web | url= https://www.abcnyheter.no/nyheter/verden/2022/03/06/195830744/tysk-minister-nye-g7-sanksjoner-burde-rettes-mot-russiske-oligarker | title = Tysk minister: Nye G7-sanksjoner burde rettes mot russiske oligarker |trans-title= German minister: New G7 sanctions should target Russian oligarchs | publisher = ABC Nyheter | date= 7 March 2022 | access-date= 7 March 2022 | language = no |archive-date=6 March 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220306205106/https://www.abcnyheter.no/nyheter/verden/2022/03/06/195830744/tysk-minister-nye-g7-sanksjoner-burde-rettes-mot-russiske-oligarker | url-status=live}}

On the night of 24 February 2022, right after Russia started its invasion of Ukraine, Lindner according to the Ambassador of Ukraine in Germany told Ukraine's ambassador Andriy Melnyk that "Ukraine has only a few hours" left, so he opposed arms supplies to Kyiv and Russia's disconnection from SWIFT.{{Cite news |last=Gerster |first=Livia |title=Ukrainischer Botschafter: Sie wollen seine Worte nicht hören |trans-title=Ukrainian ambassador: They don't want to hear his words |language=de |work=FAZ.NET |url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/ausland/andrij-melnyk-ukrainischer-botschafter-in-verzweifelter-mission-17909743.html |access-date=29 March 2022 |issn=0174-4909 |archive-date=28 March 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220328114749/https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/ausland/andrij-melnyk-ukrainischer-botschafter-in-verzweifelter-mission-17909743.html | url-status=live}}{{Cite web |title=У Берліні давали Україні "кілька годин" після вторгнення РФ, тому не допомагали – посол |trans-title=Berlin gave Ukraine "a few hours" after Russia's invasion, so they didn't help - ambassador |url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2022/03/29/7335467/ |access-date=29 March 2022 |website=Українська правда |language=uk |archive-date=29 March 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220329084924/https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2022/03/29/7335467/ | url-status=live}} On 17 May 2022, Lindner said he is "politically open to the idea of seizing" the frozen foreign-exchange reserves of the Central Bank of Russia —which amount to over $300 billion— to cover the costs of rebuilding Ukraine after the war.{{cite news |title=Germany open to Russian Central Bank asset seizure to finance Ukraine's recovery |url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/eastern-europe/news/germany-open-to-russian-central-bank-asset-seizure-to-finance-ukraines-recovery/ |work=Euractiv |date=17 May 2022 |archive-date=17 May 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517112533/https://www.euractiv.com/section/eastern-europe/news/germany-open-to-russian-central-bank-asset-seizure-to-finance-ukraines-recovery | url-status=live}}

In August 2022, Lindner announced a "big step" to improve anti-money laundering and sanctions enforcement in Germany: he wanted to create a "Federal Financial Criminal Investigation Office" to end the good conditions for money laundering in Germany.{{Cite web |date=16 September 2022 |title=Sanktionen durchsetzen und Geldwäsche bekämpfen |trans-title=Enforcing sanctions and combating money laundering |url=https://www.gdp.de/gdp/gdpbupo.nsf/id/DG_13_BZGZoll_Sanktionen-durchsetzen-und-Geldwaesche-bekaempfen |access-date=5 October 2023 |website=www.gdp.de |language=de |archive-date=16 September 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220916093818/https://www.gdp.de/gdp/gdpbupo.nsf/id/DG_13_BZGZoll_Sanktionen-durchsetzen-und-Geldwaesche-bekaempfen | url-status=live}}{{Cite web |title=Christian Lindner treibt Pläne für Bundesfinanzkriminalamt voran |trans-title=Christian Lindner pushes forward plans for Federal Financial Criminal Police Office |url=https://www.diruj.net/news/christian-lindner-treibt-plaene-fuer-bundesfinanzkriminalamt-voran-2/ |access-date=5 October 2023 |language=de |archive-date=3 December 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231203142042/https://www.diruj.net/news/christian-lindner-treibt-plaene-fuer-bundesfinanzkriminalamt-voran-2/ | url-status=live}} The GdP warned of fragmented responsibilities and authorities at federal and state levels; rather, Lindner should strengthen the existing Federal Customs Office. To this day there is no "Federal Financial Criminal Investigation Office". Experts criticize that the new agency lacks the authority to seizure suspicious assets by administrative order and the exclusion of tax-related offences from its jurisdiction, according to a draft published until September 2023.{{Cite web |title="Lindner schafft es nicht zu liefern" |date=21 September 2023 |access-date=8 June 2024| url=https://www.sueddeutsche.de/wirtschaft/christian-lindner-kriminalitaet-geldwaesche-1.6246893 |language=de |archive-date=21 September 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230921211700/https://www.sueddeutsche.de/wirtschaft/christian-lindner-kriminalitaet-geldwaesche-1.6246893 | url-status=live}}

Lindner has been a staunch defender of the constitutionally-enshrined debt brake and seen as reluctant to agree another suspension in 2024.{{cite news|author=Christian Kraemer and Maria Martinez |date= 1 December 2023 |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/german-finance-minister-defends-2023-debt-brake-suspension-forced-by-court-2023-12-01/ |title=German finance minister defends 2023 debt brake suspension forced by court ruling |work=Reuters |archive-date=2 December 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231202130133/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/german-finance-minister-defends-2023-debt-brake-suspension-forced-by-court-2023-12-01/ | url-status=live}}

In July 2024 Lindner argued that Germany would need to halve its aid to Ukraine.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0kr91zqp0lo |title=Germany plans to halve military aid for Ukraine |work=BBC News |archive-date=18 July 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240718022339/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0kr91zqp0lo | url-status=live}} In August 2024 Lindner halted new aid to Ukraine, saying the aid would in future be supplied from the frozen funds in the west of the Russian Central Bank. Robert Habeck, among others, thought that this might stress the ruling coalition,{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/germany-halt-new-ukraine-military-aid-report-war-russia/ |work=Politico |title=Germany to halt new Ukraine military aid: Report |archive-date=17 August 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240817112044/https://www.politico.eu/article/germany-halt-new-ukraine-military-aid-report-war-russia/ | url-status=live}} and this had already impacted the promised Diehl IRIS-T system, which turned out not to have been funded by Germany after all because of the restrictions put in place by Lindner.{{cite news |url=https://tvpworld.com/79939063/germany-to-limit-military-aid-to-ukraine-due-to-budget-cuts |title=Germany to limit military aid to Ukraine due to budget cuts |work=TVP World |archive-date=17 August 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240817144430/https://tvpworld.com/79939063/germany-to-limit-military-aid-to-ukraine-due-to-budget-cuts | url-status=live}}

In September 2024, Lindner agreed with an FDP position paper that proposed cuts to the social benefits for asylum seekers, as well as designating some North African countries as "safe" for ease of repatriation.{{cite news|last=von der Burchard|first=Hans|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/germany-struggles-to-contain-migration-influx/|title=Germany's Greens and Liberals call for action on immigration as far right strengthens|website=Politico|date=20 September 2023|access-date=11 November 2024|archive-date=20 September 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230920072225/https://www.politico.eu/article/germany-struggles-to-contain-migration-influx/

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On 6 November 2024, Lindner's dismissal was proposed by Olaf Scholz, citing loss of trust.{{Cite web |title=Kanzler Scholz entlässt Finanzminister Lindner |trans-title=Chancellor Scholz dismisses Finance Minister Lindner |url=https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/innenpolitik/eilmeldung-ampelregierung-scholz-entlaesst-lindner-100.html |access-date=9 November 2024 |website=Tagesschau |archive-date=6 November 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241106195827/https://www.tagesschau.de/eilmeldung/eilmeldung-ampelregierung-scholz-entlaesst-lindner-100.html | url-status=live |language=de}} On 7 November he was dismissed from office by the Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.{{Cite web |title=Schloss Bellevue: Bundespräsident Steinmeier überreicht Christian Lindner die Entlassungsurkunde |trans-title= Schloss Bellevue: Federal President Steinmeier presents Christian Lindner with the certificate of release |url=https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/video254408988/Schloss-Bellevue-Bundespraesident-Steinmeier-ueberreicht-Christian-Lindner-die-Entlassungsurkunde.html |access-date=9 November 2024 |website=DIE WELT |language=de |archive-date=9 November 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241109132320/https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/video254408988/Schloss-Bellevue-Bundespraesident-Steinmeier-ueberreicht-Christian-Lindner-die-Entlassungsurkunde.html | url-status=live}} His removal led to the collapse of the governing coalition, with two other FDP members resigning from their ministries and a third minister leaving the FDP.{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c7v3r046pzzo | title=German coalition collapses after Scholz fires key minister | date=7 November 2024 |work=BBC News |archive-date=7 November 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241107064020/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c7v3r046pzzo | url-status=live}}

Lindner led the FDP in the 2025 German federal election. As expected in the polls, the FDP failed to reach the 5% threshold, resulting in the party failing to secure any seats in the 21st Bundestag.{{Cite web |title=Results Germany - The Federal Returning Officer |url=https://www.bundeswahlleiterin.de/en/bundestagswahlen/2025/ergebnisse/bund-99.html |access-date=2025-02-24 |website=www.bundeswahlleiterin.de}} Shortly after the announcement of the projected election results, Lindner announced his retirement from politics and resignation as FDP leader.{{Cite news |title=Germany's Former Finance Minister Lindner Ends Political Career |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-02-23/germany-s-former-finance-minister-lindner-ends-political-career |work=Bloomberg News}}

• European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), ex-officio Member of the Board of Governors (since 2021){{cite web|url=http://www.ebrd.com/shareholders-and-board-of-governors.html |title= Board of Governors|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170228141219/http://www.ebrd.com/shareholders-and-board-of-governors.html |archive-date=28 February 2017 |work=European Bank for Reconstruction and Development}}
• European Investment Bank (EIB), ex-officio Member of the Board of Governors (since 2021){{cite web|url=http://www.eib.org/about/governance-and-structure/statutory-bodies/board_of_governors/index.htm |title=Board of Governors |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180616103358/http://www.eib.org/about/governance-and-structure/statutory-bodies/board_of_governors/index.htm |archive-date=16 June 2018 |work=European Investment Bank}}
• European Stability Mechanism (ESM), ex-officio Member of the Board of Governors (since 2021){{cite web|url= https://www.esm.europa.eu/profile/christian-lindner|title=Board of Governors: Christian Lindner |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220105082622/https://www.esm.europa.eu/profile/christian-lindner |archive-date=5 January 2022 |work=European Stability Mechanism}}
• Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), ex-officio Member of the Board of Governors (since 2021){{cite web|url=https://www.aiib.org/en/about-aiib/governance/board-governors/index.html |title=Board of Governors |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20171029173748/https://www.aiib.org/en/about-aiib/governance/board-governors/index.html|archive-date=29 October 2017 |work=Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank}}
• International Monetary Fund (IMF), ex-officio Alternate Member of the Board of Governors (since 2021){{cite web|url=http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/memdir/members.aspx |title=Members | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111111021542/http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/memdir/members.aspx |archive-date=11 November 2011 |work=International Monetary Fund}}

• KfW, Ex-Officio Member of the Board of Supervisory Directors (since 2021){{cite web|url= https://www.kfw.de/About-KfW/Arbeitsweise-und-Unternehmensf%C3%BChrung/Verwaltungsrat-und-seine-Aussch%C3%BCsse/|title=Board of Supervisory Directors and its Committees |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019094835/https://www.kfw.de/About-KfW/Arbeitsweise-und-Unternehmensf%C3%BChrung/Verwaltungsrat-und-seine-Aussch%C3%BCsse/ |archive-date=19 October 2021 |work=KfW}}
• RAG-Stiftung, Ex-Officio Member of the Board of Trustees (since 2021){{cite web|url=https://www.rag-stiftung.de/en/about-us/board-of-trustees/ |title=Board of Trustees |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170820173606/http://www.rag-stiftung.de/en/about-us/board-of-trustees/ |archive-date=20 August 2017 |work=RAG-Stiftung}}

• Borussia Dortmund, Member of the Business Advisory Board (since 2018){{cite web|author=Lothar Schmalen |date=28 November 2018 |url=https://www.nw.de/nachrichten/zwischen_weser_und_rhein/22310442_Im-Glanz-des-Fussballerfolgs.html |title=FDP-Chef Lindner sitzt jetzt im BVB-Wirtschaftsrat – kein Einzelfall |work=Neue Westfälische |archive-date=3 November 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191103170451/https://www.nw.de/nachrichten/zwischen_weser_und_rhein/22310442_Im-Glanz-des-Fussballerfolgs.html | url-status=live}}
• Aktive Bürgerschaft, Member of the Board of Trustees{{Cite web|title = Aktive Bürgerschaft|url = http://www.aktive-buergerschaft.de/aktive_buergerschaft/stiftungsrat/lindner|website = www.aktive-buergerschaft.de|access-date = 23 May 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160305023033/http://www.aktive-buergerschaft.de/aktive_buergerschaft/stiftungsrat/lindner|archive-date = 5 March 2016|url-status = dead}}
• Friedrich Naumann Foundation, Member of the Board of Trustees{{Cite web|title = www.en.freiheit.org – Organization|url = http://www.freiheit.org/The-Board-of-Trustees/867c11142i780/index.html|website = www.freiheit.org|access-date = 23 May 2015|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111120220403/http://www.freiheit.org/The-Board-of-Trustees/867c11142i780/index.html|archive-date = 20 November 2011}}
• ZDF, Member of the Television Board{{cite web | title=ZDF-Fernsehrat beschneidet Politikerzahl nicht | website=Tagesspiegel | date=16 May 2014 | url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/gesellschaft/medien/alte-besetzung-zdf-fernsehrat-beschneidet-politikerzahl-nicht/9905338.html | language=de | access-date=26 July 2021}}
• Heinrich Heine University (HHU), Institut für Deutsches und Internationales Parteienrecht und Parteienforschung, Member of the Board of Trustees
• Deutsche AIDS-Stiftung, Member of the Board of Trustees{{cite web|url=https://aids-stiftung.de/infos-%C3%BCber-die-stiftung/die-stiftung/gremien/kuratorium |title=Board of Trustees |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181213115653/https://aids-stiftung.de/infos-%C3%BCber-die-stiftung/die-stiftung/gremien/kuratorium |archive-date=13 December 2018 |work=Deutsche AIDS-Stiftung}}
• Walther Rathenau Institute, Member of the Advisory Board{{cite web|url=http://www.rathenau-stiftung.de/organisation/ |title=Advisory Board |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818013739/http://www.rathenau-stiftung.de/organisation/ |archive-date=18 August 2018 |work=Walther Rathenau Institute}}
• Deutsche Nationalstiftung, Member of the Senate
• NRW Foundation, Member of the Board of Trustees{{cite web|url=http://www.nrw-stiftung.de/foerderverein/gremien-kuratorium.php?sid=69a03dda8d7107cac89f18a8da19cfb7?sid=11a71a6298eb96ea978cca0201f13ae3 |title=Board of Trustees |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419133736/http://www.nrw-stiftung.de/foerderverein/gremien-kuratorium.php?sid=69a03dda8d7107cac89f18a8da19cfb7?sid=11a71a6298eb96ea978cca0201f13ae3 |archive-date=19 April 2021 |url-status=dead |work=NRW Foundation}}
• Captain in the German Air Forces reserve
• Rotary International, Member

In 2022, Lindner called for renewed talks over a free trade agreement between the European Union and the United States, aiming to revive discussions on the so-called Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).{{cite news|author=Tom Sims |date=20 March 2022 |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/germany-calls-new-talks-transatlantic-trade-deal-handelsblatt-2022-03-20/ |title=Germany calls for new talks on transatlantic trade deal |work=Reuters |archive-date=20 March 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220320102050/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/germany-calls-new-talks-transatlantic-trade-deal-handelsblatt-2022-03-20/ | url-status=live}}

In early 2015, an impassioned response to heckling by Lindner, defending entrepreneurs and startup culture, made it onto newspaper front pages and became one of the most watched political speeches in months. Lindner was speaking before the state legislature in North Rhine-Westphalia about the importance of entrepreneurship and how failed entrepreneurs deserve a second chance when a Social Democratic member in the audience heckled: "That [failure] is something you have experience in." That was a reference to an Internet company co-founded by Lindner that failed after the dot-com bubble burst in the early 2000s. Lindner responded with a {{frac|2|1|2}}-minute speech, saying: "If one succeeds, one ends up in the sights of the Social Democratic redistribution machinery and, if one fails, one can be sure of derision and mockery." He added that this particular member preferred to have a secure job in public service for his entire life, rather than daring to found a company, and how the message of that heckling attempt was the total opposite of what had been announced just minutes earlier by the president of the state legislature, who also happened to be an SPD member.{{Cite news|last=Troianovski|first=Anton|author-link=Anton Troianovski|date=3 February 2015|title=Video Rant Wins Praise for Struggling German Political Party|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/video-rant-buoys-german-pro-business-party-1422972567|access-date=23 May 2015|issn=0099-9660|archive-date=10 March 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150310014457/https://www.wsj.com/articles/video-rant-buoys-german-pro-business-party-1422972567 | url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skvOKFbtr3E| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150201184210/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skvOKFbtr3E&gl=US&hl=en| archive-date=1 February 2015 | url-status=dead|title=YouTube|website=www.youtube.com}}

Bild, the highest-circulation tabloid in Germany, praised Lindner on its front page. The Berlin daily Tagesspiegel said the rant offered a welcome contrast to the "persistent fog of alternative-less Merkelism" that characterized debate in the Bundestag. What they were referring to was the situation that because of the narrow defeats of the FDP and the AfD, the opposition in the Bundestag only included left parties. Many policies of Merkel's government directly came from their center-left coalition partner SPD or were at least negotiated and harmonized with them, and then only left parties reacted on them, who usually criticized those policies as inadequate and advocated for more investment into them or stronger policies, but did not oppose them on a principled basis.

Shortly after the 2017 elections, Lindner ruled out taking on new debt to manage the balancing act of cutting income taxes and increasing investment on digital infrastructure. He criticized outgoing Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble for not being tough enough on Greece and not cutting income taxes for middle-class workers.{{cite web|author=Michael Nienaber |date=6 October 2017 |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-politics-fdp/fdp-leader-wants-tougher-euro-zone-policy-no-new-german-debt-idUSKBN1CB12R |title=FDP leader wants tougher euro zone policy, no new German debt |work=Reuters |archive-date=6 October 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171006214936/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-politics-fdp/fdp-leader-wants-tougher-euro-zone-policy-no-new-german-debt-idUSKBN1CB12R | url-status=live}}

Lindner criticized some of the actions taken during the 2023–2024 German farmers' protests, especially after the blockade of Robert Habeck on a ferry.{{Cite web |date=6 January 2024 |title=Lindner appelliert an Landwirte: "Sie haben sich verrannt, bitte kehren Sie um" |trans-title=Lindner appeals to farmers: "You have lost your way, please turn back" |url=https://www.stern.de/politik/deutschland/christian-lindner-appelliert-an-landwirte---bitte-kehren-sie-um--34342792.html |website=stern.de |language=de |archive-date=6 January 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106154352/https://www.stern.de/politik/deutschland/christian-lindner-appelliert-an-landwirte---bitte-kehren-sie-um--34342792.html | url-status=live}}

US economist Joseph Stiglitz and British economist Adam Tooze criticized Lindner's fiscal positions in 2021, arguing that, if put into practice, they would pose a threat to the economic future of Germany and Europe. They called his positions an "accumulation of conservative clichés" from a "bygone era" that had become obsolete "after three decades of crisis on the financial markets, in geopolitics [and] in the environmental field".{{Cite news| title=

"It Would Be a Mistake to Grant Him His Wish" | newspaper=Die Zeit | date=27 October 2021 | url= https://www.zeit.de/politik/deutschland/2021-10/christian-lindner-finance-minister-traffic-light-coalition-koalition-critics-englisch/komplettansicht | archive-url= https://archive.today/20230420225925/https://www.zeit.de/politik/deutschland/2021-10/christian-lindner-finance-minister-traffic-light-coalition-koalition-critics-englisch/komplettansicht | url-status= dead | archive-date= 2023-04-20 | access-date=8 June 2024 | last1=Stiglitz | first1=Joseph E. | last2=Tooze | first2=Adam}}

In 2011, Lindner married journalist Dagmar Rosenfeld; they had started dating in 2009.{{Cite news|url=https://www.focus.de/panorama/vermischtes/christian-lindner-fdp-generalsekretaer-heiratet-dagmar-rosenfeld_aid_655556.html|title=FDP-Generalsekretär heiratet Dagmar Rosenfeld|trans-title=FDP General Secretary marries Dagmar Rosenfeld|work=FOCUS Online|access-date=19 April 2018|language=de |archive-date=17 January 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160117123453/https://www.focus.de/panorama/vermischtes/christian-lindner-fdp-generalsekretaer-heiratet-dagmar-rosenfeld_aid_655556.html | url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.berliner-zeitung.de/panorama/fdp-chef-wieder-single-so-koennte-christian-lindners-datingprofil-aussehen-30042946|title=FDP-Chef: Christian Lindner ist wieder Single|trans-title=FDP leader: Christian Lindner is single again|work=Berliner Zeitung|access-date=19 April 2018|language=de |archive-date=19 April 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180419192603/https://www.berliner-zeitung.de/panorama/fdp-chef-wieder-single-so-koennte-christian-lindners-datingprofil-aussehen-30042946 | url-status=dead}} On 19 April 2018, they announced their separation.{{cite web| author=Matthew Karnitschnig |date=18 May 2018 |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/christian-lindner-german-liberal-fdp-angela-merkel-leaders-bakery-tale-goes-a-rye/ |title=German liberal leader's 'midlife crisis |work=Politico |archive-date=18 May 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180518042933/https://www.politico.eu/article/christian-lindner-german-liberal-fdp-angela-merkel-leaders-bakery-tale-goes-a-rye/ | url-status=live}} In 2018, he started dating journalist Franca Lehfeldt, whom he married in 2022.{{Cite news|url= https://www.msn.com/en-xl/news/other/german-finance-minister-gets-married-at-exclusive-island-of-sylt/ar-AAZkl6g|title= German finance minister gets married at exclusive island of Sylt |work=MSN.com|access-date=10 July 2022 |archive-date=7 July 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220707183859/https://www.msn.com/en-xl/news/other/german-finance-minister-gets-married-at-exclusive-island-of-sylt/ar-AAZkl6g | url-status=live}} Their first child, a daughter, was born in April 2025https://www.focus.de/kultur/stars/erstes-foto-geteilt-christian-lindners-und-franca-lehfeldts-baby-ist-da_84a8f3c1-43b3-4d78-85cf-282751450def.html

• {{cite book | last=Knüppel | first=Hartmut | title=Die Aktie als Marke | publisher=Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Verl.-Bereich Buch | publication-place=Frankfurt am Main | date=2001 | isbn=978-3-933180-83-4 | language=de}}
• {{cite book | last=Lindner | first=Christian | title=Avatare | publisher=Springer | date=14 October 2012 | isbn=978-3-642-62397-4 | language=de}}
• {{cite book | last1=Rösler | first1=Philipp | last2=Lindner | first2=Christian | title=Freiheit: gefühlt - gedacht - gelebt | publisher=Springer-Verlag | publication-place=Wiesbaden | date=25 March 2009 | isbn=978-3-531-16387-1 | language=de}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• [https://www.bundestag.de/abgeordnete/biografien/L/521640-521640 German Bundestag – Abgeordneter Christian Lindner] {{in lang |de}}
• [http://www.christian-lindner.de Lindner's personal website] (mostly in German)
• [https://www.christian-lindner.de/content/about-christian-lindner English section on his personal website]
• [https://www.fdp.de/person/christian-lindner Lindner's profile on the party website]

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Category:1979 births

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