The ‘D-Day’ paper has severely undermined the credibility of the Free Democratic Party (FDP) led by Christian Lindner, posing serious risks for the party and public trust in politics. Lindner’s emotional response following the government’s collapse is now viewed as inauthentic, contributing to widespread disillusionment among voters, especially younger ones. The FDP faces a critical situation, exacerbated by the resignation of General Secretary Djir-Sarai, as many young voters seek liberal policies but may turn to populist alternatives instead.