Counting on magenta

January 6 is sacrosanct to Germany's Free Democratic Party. The Epiphany Day party rally traditionally marks the start of the new year for the FDP, and there's always a whiff of self-celebration: The party may be down on its knees, but in Stuttgart, the capital of the southwestern state of Baden-Württemberg, it's making a big show of confidence.

This is no easy task for a political party that has been without representation in the German parliament since 2013, and which pollsters predict will also lose out in upcoming elections in Hamburg and Bremen.

But the FDP family, gathered in the baroque State Theater, won't let opinion polls affect its upbeat mood. Now is the time for the weather to come to the aid of the badly scarred party, which is only represented in a mere five out of 16 state parliaments, invariably gracing opposition benches. It is minus five degrees outside, but apart from that it's a splendid winter day. "The skies are blue, the sun is yellow!," rejoices Michael Theurer, EU parliament member and chairman of the hosting FDP state association.

A new color

Yellow and blue are the traditional FDP colors, and they have now been complemented by a vibrant magenta. A strikingly high number of the gentlemen at the State Theater were wearing ties in the party's new color - a symbol of a new beginning. And no-one better represented the free-market party's hopes than Lencke Steiner.

The unknown FDP front-runner for the Bremen state election was seated in a white armchair of cool elegance, positioned center stage. A broad, waist-length magenta scarf embellished her shoulders. But the political newcomer did not deliver any public speech, nor did her Hamburg colleague Katja Suding, seated close to her.

The starring role was, of course reserved for the party leader. Lindner started off with a look "at our country." The 35-year-old saw a "strong, satisfied Germany." Yet, behind the facade of prosperity loomed a feeling of insecurity: He warned of treacherous satisfaction and political standstill, a recurring motif during his speech. He mentioned upcoming challenges: globalization, digitization, international crises, all of them often causing envy and enmity.

This was Lindner's first - still indirect - allusion to the Alternative for Germany (AfD), the FDP's upstart political rival. The party, established only two years ago, immediately snagged a large number of votes from the FDP thanks to its policies, which initially appeared to be solidly middle-class.

Clawing back AfD voters

In the meantime, the AfD has turned out to be an increasingly populist bunch, at odds with one another and without reservations towards the demonstrators of the PEGIDA (Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamization of the West) movement.

Lindner's slamming of the AfD is an acknowledgment that numerous disenchanted FDP supporters have joined the AfD's ranks. His words came across like an offer: People's concerns in connection with immigration and refugees had to be taken seriously; they must not be reviled indiscriminately.

But, the FDP leader did not want to be misunderstood: he emphasised that Salafists and populists were a danger to the "inner liberality of our society." The AfD, he continued, had dropped its mask, "revealing an ugly, reactionary face."

Lindner said he wants the core of his party's agenda to remain intact: this was "not a hip, light product," but a "stronger dose" of the existing FDP. The party, he said, would stay true to its core ideas, above all a social market economy with as little government interference as possible.

If Germany aspired to remain world champion in exports, it would have to strive for the "best education system in the world," Lindner said, repeating a well-known FDP mantra. But in Germany, he continued, young students were discussing the newest smartphones apps during their breaks, only to return to the "chalk age" afterwards - old-fashioned lectures with teachers in front of blackboards.

Restrained criticism directed at Merkel

Lindner then accused the grand coalition in Berlin of "refusing to shape our future," citing a misguided pension policy and a sluggish transition to green energy as examples.

But he also engaged in self-criticism. The FDP had, after all, had long played a key role in shaping Germany: "And those who permanently point out the weaknesses of others seem to be uncertain about their own strengths."

He said the crucial mistake during the FDP's time in government between 2009 and 2013 was when the party turned down the finance ministry portfolio. It should have been in a position to overcome Chancellor Angela Merkel's "No" to a comprehensive tax system reform.

Lindner accepted personal responsibility for this, because he was then already a member of the FDP governing board. "It will not happen again during the remainder of my political life," he said, to copious applause from his audience.

FDP concepts sound familiar

"Why does the FDP belong in parliament?," Lindner asked himself and his captive audience. "Why did we join the Free Democratic Party in the first place?"

The answer? "Because we love freedom." Freedom, he said, was an attitude towards life, shared by millions of people in Germany: "But, all in all, by too few."

More key FDP concepts followed: protection of privacy, data protection, in short: civil rights. These are values, Lindner explained, that can be defended only together with the western allies in Washington, London and Paris.

Russia belonged to the European house, too, he said, provided it complied with house rules - international law. It came as no surprise that the FDP endorsed the proposed TTIP (Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership) free-trade agreement with the US.

So a review of the agenda laid out by Lindner suggests the FDP remains ideologically unchanged.

Part of a new liberal movement?

Lindner said, the party had successfully defined itself over the past year. With its vigor renewed, electoral success in the Hamburg and Bremen state elections seems possible. But only 2 percent of the electorate are currently contemplating voting for the FDP.

Nevertheless, Lindner remains optimistic: Not opinion polls "but inner strength" would be the measure of the FDP. He promised those who supported the party today would be part of a new movement. Its colours are yellow, blue and magenta.