The Funniest People in the Room

The FDP—Germany’s Free Democratic Party, perpetual coalition footnote, the party that promises tax cuts and delivers confusion—has always had a remarkable ability to produce politicians who are funnier than they intend to be. Friedhelm Ernst appears to be carrying that tradition forward with some dedication. There’s a particular kind of comedy that only minor-party politicians can generate: all the self-importance of power with almost none of the actual power, which leaves them perfectly positioned to be magnificent and useless at the same time.