Berlin – In a surprising move, the Association of Family Business Owners is initiating discussions wiht members of the Alternative for germany (AfD), a decision that highlights a growing willingness among some business leaders to engage with the right-wing party. The move comes as the AfD continues to gain support in national polls and family businesses navigate an increasingly complex political landscape.
The outreach aims to directly challenge the AfD’s platform and assess the substance of thier policies, with the belief that a lack of concrete proposals is fueling the party’s appeal. This development underscores the significant economic influence of Germany’s family-owned enterprises – the backbone of the nation’s economy - and their proactive approach to shaping the political debate. The potential outcome of these talks could influence the future direction of economic policy and the business climate in Germany.
“The party has to provide content,” stated Association President Marie-Christine Ostermann in an interview with Handelsblatt. “The longing for the AfD could then disappear if it was made clear that AfD politicians were ofen blank or contradictory in terms of content. But this only becomes apparent in direct exchange.” The association began planning these discussions in the spring of 2025.
Though, not all within the family business community agree with this approach. the Family Business Foundation has taken a firm stance against engaging with the AfD or the Left party, citing fundamental differences in values. “Representatives of the AfD or the Left are not invited to events because their value base largely does not match those of family businesses,” explained foundation board member Kirchdörfer. ”The AfD’s program endangers family entrepreneurship in Germany.”
This report originated from a broadcast on Deutschlandfunk on November 24th, 2025.
