The party has not been in the national government since 1998, while it has been part of 6 regional governments over the past years. The FDP is now expected to enter coalition talks with the Christian Democrats (CDU), and a new center-right government could already be formed by the end of October 2009.
European Liberals are excited about this fantastic success: “A more liberal Germany will no doubt contribute to a more liberal Europe”, I congratulate Guido Westerwelle and his team for their great achievements. The strategy to remain firm on liberal values and principles proved to be very rewarding”, ELDR Party President Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck commented.

FDP party chairman Westerwelle said that such a strong result means a "big responsibility" for the FDP. He added that his party would work to ensure that Germany gets a "fair tax system and better education opportunities" and that civil rights are better respected again”.
These priorities are fully in line with the policies of the liberal group in the European Parliament. European Liberals will now have a strong support from the EU’s biggest member state in the field of civil rights and for the financial restructuring of Europe’s economy.

Watch here Guido Westerwelle's speech at the ELDR Congress 2007 in Berlin and the German liberal commitment for a liberal Europe