The president of the Central Association of German Crafts (ZDH), Jörg Dittrich, has warned his own industry about the growing appeal of parties on the political fringe, particularly in light of the high approval ratings for the AfD. Speaking to “Bild”, Dittrich urged many craftspeople and master craftsmen to consider the future, emphasizing that they should participate “in democracy by wrestling with issues,” rather than settling for simple, populist answers. He called on everyone to join parties and take part in this public discourse.
Dittrich highlighted that Germany has become a strong economic nation through innovation, diversity, openness to the world, and diligence. He insisted that these qualities must once again be prioritized. The ZDH president expressed concern that many voters are choosing “security” instead of embracing complexity. This preference, he noted, leads toward populism and simplistic answers. Dittrich stressed that the situation facing Germany is complex-there is no easy answer. Therefore, the crucial question must be about finding a sophisticated response to the challenges of our time.
