Michael Vassiliadis, the head of the Mining, Chemical, Energy (IGBCE) industry union, has sharply criticized the Federal Government led by CDU Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Speaking to the “Manager Magazin” ahead of elections in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Vassiliadis argued that if Merz and his administration wish to improve their communication strategy, Merz needs to adjust his perception of people. He asserted that the political narrative should stop focusing on issues of abuse, fraud, and laziness, and should instead highlight “the abilities, potentials, performance, and effort that define people and their daily lives.”
Furthermore, Vassiliadis placed responsibility on the SPD for the rise of the AfD. He commented that previously, the union’s skilled workers were not receptive to right-wing parties. “That has changed,” he noted. “These people are not far-right extremists; rather, they are politically desperate.”
