Dissatisfaction is growing among business leaders within the CDU regarding those who criticize Germany’s economic standing and the performance of the government.
Andreas Mattfeldt, the CDU/CSU parliamentary budget expert, told Stern that the current situation is not solely the fault of politics. He pointed out that in recent years, there have been major management failures concerning the implementation of new technologies, regulations for mobile work, and significant future decisions. Mattfeldt, who is also an entrepreneur, argues that whenever CEOs or industry representatives constantly conjure up worst-case scenarios, it is counterproductive. He believes that the economy is largely a matter of psychology, quoting his grandmother: “You don’t complain, you make changes”.
Gitta Connemann, the head of the CDU’s SME association, blamed business representatives for failing to adequately account for the complex political climate in their complaints. “A democracy is not a business where only one person decides where things go” Connemann told Stern. In a democracy, majority rule is key, and compromise is essential, though it is not always possible. She further noted that this climate is also exacerbated by the AfD, which acts as if it can change everything overnight, striking a sensitive chord with small and medium-sized businesses. She described this combination of factors as perilous.
