Overview
- Kubicki, who announced his bid on Easter Sunday, said his wife's early refusal turned into approval after a day of talks he called decisive.
- The 74-year-old deputy chair frames his run as a rescue effort for the Free Democratic Party, which recent polls place at about 3 to 4 percent.
- Henning Höne, the FDP leader in North Rhine-Westphalia, remains his main rival for the party chair to be decided at the end-of-May congress.
- Current party chief Christian Dürr will not seek another term and has endorsed Kubicki to succeed him.
- Kubicki told Spiegel that Höne lacks the national name recognition needed to lift the party quickly after failures to clear 5 percent in recent state elections.