Christian Lindner, 46, is the former German Finance Minister and long-time leader of the pro-market FDP. He served nearly 25 years in parliament. A political science graduate from Bonn and a reserve major in the German Air Force, he previously worked as an entrepreneur. Lindner led post-COVID budget consolidation, helped shape EU fiscal rules and the Capital Markets Union, and chaired the G7 Finance Ministers in 2022. He holds the French Legion of Honor and Austria’s Grand Decoration in Gold.