Can yesterday’s man save German liberalism?

At 74, Wolfgang Kubicki is taking over the FDP just as the party faces political extinction. His rise reveals a growing appetite for politicians who feel less scripted — and less modern.

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Can yesterday’s man be the man of tomorrow?

The expression ein Mann von gestern is used to describe a man, usually of advancing years, whose habits, mannerisms and opinions no longer fit comfortably into the modern world. The phrase carries with it the assumption that history moves in only one direction — and that some people simply fail to k…