Marco Buschmann, former Federal Minister of Justice, has been appointed as the new Secretary General of the Free Democratic Party (FDP) following the controversial "D-Day" paper that outlined the party's exit strategy from the coalition with the SPD and Greens.

This appointment comes as the FDP faces a critical period, with upcoming elections in February and poll numbers hovering around the 5% threshold needed to re-enter the Bundestag.

Buschmann, a close ally of FDP leader Christian Lindner, is tasked with steering the party through one of its toughest election campaigns in decades.

The "D-Day" paper, which used military terms to describe the FDP's exit, has sparked internal and external criticism, leading to the resignation of the previous Secretary General, Bijan Djir-Sarai.

The coalition had already fractured in November over disputes in fiscal and economic policies, with Chancellor Olaf Scholz dismissing Lindner as Finance Minister.

Buschmann's leadership will be crucial as the FDP seeks to regain its footing in German politics.