North Rhine-Westphalia’s Economics Minister Mona Neubaur, of the Green Party, has issued a stark warning to the Association of Family Businesses regarding increasingly conciliatory overtures toward the Alternative for Germany (AfD). The minister’s critique, delivered to the “Rheinische Post”, underscores a growing unease about the potential destabilizing effects of such political maneuvering, particularly within the state’s vital economic landscape.
Neubaur characterized the recent signals suggesting a softening of the traditional firewall between business associations and the far-right party as “a grave error – politically and economically”. She articulated a clear link between robust economic performance and the stability of democratic institutions, stating, “Reliable markets need reliable democracy.
The minister’s statement moved beyond mere disapproval, directly challenging the rationale behind any perceived inclination towards the AfD. “As Economics Minister, I say clearly: A strong economy does not arise through flirting with authoritarian forces, but through the rule of law, open markets and a social climate that enables innovation”. The implication levied a significant rebuke, suggesting that a short-sighted pursuit of perceived political advantage could ultimately inflict deep harm to the businesses the association represents.
Neubaur’s appeal targeted the long-term perspective inherent in family-run businesses. “Entrepreneurs who bear responsibility across generations know: extremism is a risk – not a business model”. She implored influential figures within the business associations to reaffirm their commitment to fundamental democratic values, asserting that the economic success of the region and the nation, are inextricably linked to upholding those principles. The warning signals broader anxieties about the creeping normalization of extremist political positions and the potential for erosion of democratic safeguards within Germany’s economic sphere.
