Family Business Group Retreats From Engagement With Far-Right Germany” title=”Alternative for … (AfD) | Beliefs, Platform, Election Results …”>AfD After Member Backlash
BERLIN – The Association of Family Businesses (Verband der Familienunternehmer) has reversed course on recent overtures toward the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party following notable opposition from its membership, according to reports. The initial move to engage with the AfD sparked widespread criticism, with concerns raised about normalizing a party widely considered to be extremist and damaging to Germany’s economic interests.
The controversy centered on planned discussions between the association’s president and afd representatives, fueled by the AfD’s increasing appeal to business owners. Thuringia’s Interior Minister Georg Maier (SPD) labeled the association’s initial approach a ”serious mistake,” warning it risked legitimizing an “ethnic-nationalist party.” The reversal comes after member companies voiced strong disapproval, effectively halting the president’s efforts to pursue dialog.
The initial outreach by the family business association underscored a growing, if controversial, trend of engagement between elements of the German business community and the AfD. The AfD has been actively courting entrepreneurs, presenting itself as a defender of free markets and a voice against burdensome regulations.However,the party’s anti-euro stance and nationalist rhetoric raise concerns about its potential impact on Germany’s export-oriented economy.
maier emphasized the importance of democracy and cosmopolitanism as “essential success factors for the German economy,” and urged chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHKs) to take a clear stance against the AfD. He specifically criticized IHKs in Thuringia for citing “party-political neutrality” as a reason to avoid demarcation, noting the Southern Thuringia IHK‘s willingness to engage in talks despite the potential harm the AfD’s policies could inflict on local businesses.
The situation highlights a broader debate within the German business community about how to respond to the rising influence of the AfD, and whether engagement – even critical engagement – risks normalizing its extremist views. The association’s retreat signals a victory for those advocating a firm line against the party, but the underlying tensions and the AfD’s continued efforts to cultivate business support remain a significant concern. (dpa, AFP)
