Robert Malorny: The brave FDP hopeful in the fight for Dresden's voice

Robert Malorny: The brave FDP hopeful in the fight for Dresden's voice

Robert Malorny, a name that many may not have heard in Saxony yet. However, the 45-year-old has faced a challenge that is not easy. As the top candidate of the FDP, he plans to lead the liberals back to the state parliament of Dresden after a decade of the absence. He himself describes this as "Malorny Malorny". But the path is rocky, because the surveys show a worrying tendency: the FDP attaches around two percent in the basement of popularity.

Despite this critical situation, Malorny does not give up. On Tuesday afternoon, an event took place in Meißen that attracted the attention of the citizens. The FDP had invited around 80 people to the workshop of a body builder to give them the opportunity to discuss directly with Malorny and Christian Lindner, the FDP chief and Federal Minister of Finance. Lindner describes the event as a "Festival of Freedom of Opf". Topics such as migration, the Ukraine war and economic growth were on the agenda. Lindner answered questions and gave answers that met with great interest.

The role of the top candidate

After over an hour and a half of intensive discussion, the event ended in the afternoon, and the people flocked directly to Lindner to make selfies with the prominent politician. Malorny, on the other hand, remained in the background, which made him appear in the feedback session of a voter as a candidate without the necessary charisma. "The state party lacks powerful personalities," he noticed.

In the evening, Malorny went to the old town of Dresden to get in touch with the voters directly. Despite his modest occurrence and the statement that not being a "polished speaker", he fought to convince people. He introduced himself as the "soldier" and engineer, a kind of political candidate who can be perceived by the citizens as one of them.

his message, however, only partially arrives: While Malorny spoke about education, the applause of the audience seemed rather modest, while interest really germinated when Lindner entered the stage. The FDP boss again relied on the big topics such as reducing bureaucracy and tax cuts, and suddenly the listener's attention was awakened. 

A look at the challenges

A characteristic of the event was that Lindner spoke almost twice as long as Malorny. Lindner managed to mobilize the masses and arouse a strong interest. He glorified Malorny as a real "practitioner" who had already achieved significant success in his life. But when Lindner left the stage after an intensive speech, the crowd turned again while Malorny stood and had to watch.

It remains to be seen whether Malorny can successfully design its mission in the coming days. Despite the emerging doubts, he still has five days to put himself in the right light and to gain the trust of the voters. The competition for voting is increasingly intense and the pressure on him is growing. The question remains: Can “Mission Malorny” actually succeed, or will it become more of a “mission impossible”?

A look into the future of the FDP

The coming days are crucial for the FDP and Malorny. It will be interesting to observe whether he can assert himself as an effective leader and whether he succeeds in winning the voters for himself and his party. The big challenges such as migration, economy and education are topics that move voters. Malorny's ability to put them at the center of his election campaign could be the key to the turn for the Saxon FDP. In view of the current survey values, however, it must be clear that every minute counts and that every decision is gaining in importance.

background of the political situation in Saxony

The political landscape in Saxony is characterized by a variety of challenges that affect the voters. After the FDP has lost importance in recent years, the liberals must now find answers to burning social issues. These include the integration of migrants, the effects of the Ukraine war on the local economy and the increasing pressure on the education system.

In times when populist parties gain influence, the FDP faces the task of positioning itself more clearly and formulating an offer that meets the needs of voters both programmatically and emotionally. The idea that the FDP could be an important voice in the state parliament is strongly endangered by the current survey values, which underlines the need for changes within the party.

voter interest and survey data

Current surveys show that the FDP in Saxony is currently around two percent, which is far below the necessary five percent hurdle for the move into the state parliament. These numbers reflect general dissatisfaction with the party, which can be attributed primarily to the lack of memorable, convincing personalities. According to an examination of the opinion research institute INSA of September 2023, numerous voters have signaled that they want stronger solutions for local problems and expect more diversity in political landscape.

In a different direction, the voter group, which chooses opportunistic or feels attracted to the big parties. A study by the Allensbach research institute has shown that 45 percent of those surveyed are interested in the alternative for Germany (AfD), while the Greens in Saxony are also over 20 percent. In urban areas, especially in Dresden, the established parties are exposed to increasing pressure to modernize their views and policies in order to gain young and feasible voters.

strategies to revive the FDP

To regain voters, the FDP could consider various strategies. The emphasis on local topics and personal speech could help to arouse the interest of potential voters. Another important factor is the image formation: Malorny's approach to present yourself as "one of you" could be an advantage at a time when authenticity is required.

The FDP must also consider how it can use digital campaigns in its election advertising. Young voters are usually more active online, and an increased presence on social media could help the party to spread their messages more targeted and to step into dialogue with potential voters.