Lindner’s support Florian Toncar opened the budget debate today

“Toncar is a support for Lindner and is involved in all decisions in the house,” says an official at the ministry. The prominent position became visible to the public on Tuesday in the Bundestag, when Toncar opened the budget debate instead of Lindner. In terms of content, Toncar hit the tone of his boss. “Florian did an excellent job,” wrote Federal Minister of Justice Marco Buschmann (FDP) on Twitter.

Toncar focused his speech on the rapidly rising prices. “Tackling inflation must be the ultimate goal of fiscal policy,” he said. Projects that are particularly important to the liberals are derived from this claim. This includes the dismantling of the cold progression and the return to the debt brake. It’s about a “planned return to falling deficits,” Toncar said.

Also responsible for negotiations behind the scenes

Toncar not only represents the liberal positions with commitment to the outside world. He is also responsible for behind-the-scenes negotiations. As Lindner with the Union over the 100 billion euro special fund for the armed forces spoke, Toncar was there.

Such assignments are not necessarily part of the job description for a parliamentary state secretary. Unlike the official state secretaries, who often have great influence, their power depends heavily on their connection to the minister. In particular, the state secretaries under Olaf Scholz can sing a song about it. When Scholz was Minister of Finance, he had her removed from the reporting line, important papers no longer passed through her desk.

It’s different under Lindner. Toncar is back on the reporting line and right in the middle of the action. In the house, but also outside, he is valued for his expertise. After studying law, Toncar initially worked as a lawyer with a focus on banking and financial supervision. As a 25-year-old, he drew for the first time in 2005 FDP into the Bundestag.

As a member of the financial market committee, he quickly made a name for himself as an experienced specialist politician. A CDU-Colleague remembers Toncar’s appearance during the financial crisis, when he explained “brilliantly, because incredibly precise and at the same time understandable, what was happening on the financial markets and what politics must do now”.

Experience gained in an international commercial law firm

Toncar later became a member of the budget committee. As Parliamentary State Secretary, he is now also responsible for the budget in the Ministry of Finance. But Lindner has also added the financial market area to him.

After the FDP was kicked out of the Bundestag, Toncar worked for the international law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer for three years. After the Liberals returned, Toncar became one of three parliamentary directors under parliamentary leader Lindner.

He became public in Wirecardknown scandal. Toncar was one of three celebrated with Fabio de Masi (left) and Danyal Bayaz (green). Wirecard-Enlighteners who put pressure on the government with their inquiries and promoted the work of the committee of inquiry.

He can now also draw on these experiences. Because one of his special projects in the ministry now also includes combating financial crime.

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