A comprehensive survey conducted by the Handelsblatt reveals a widespread reluctance among East German business associations to engage in political dialogue with the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. The findings indicate a clear preference for maintaining distance, raising questions about the potential for constructive engagement with a party increasingly influential in the region.
While a near-universal consensus amongst regional business leaders expresses a lack of existing contact or communication with AfD officials and representatives, one association in Saxony-Anhalt offers a cautious, conditional opening. Marco Langhof, President of the Employer and Business Associations of Saxony-Anhalt (AWSA), stated his organization remains “available for constructive conversations with all societal groups” but only under the strict proviso that such discussions operate within the framework of Germany’s fundamental democratic order. The stated goal for their participation would be to advocate for optimal economic conditions for businesses within the state.
However, the prevailing sentiment is one of strong disapproval and a perceived lack of substance. Hartmut Koch, President of the Association of Thuringian Businesses (VWT), frankly dismissed the AfD, asserting the party demonstrates fundamental shortcomings and offers no viable solutions. He criticized the party’s absence of well-defined economic proposals, both at the state and national levels, leaving its future economic policies largely undefined, which contributes to the lack of engagement.
The Association of Business Associations in Berlin and Brandenburg (UVB) echoes this sentiment with even greater force. Spokesman Carsten Brönstrup explicitly rejected any possibility of collaboration, arguing his organization only engages with politicians demonstrably committed to advancing the economic and social wellbeing of the region. He asserted that the AfD’s political program is “dangerous for the interests of our companies” citing concerns about the party’s increasingly isolationist and populist stances on European policies. Moreover, Brönstrup voiced concerns regarding the AfD’s underlying worldview, a factor contributing directly to the complete absence of any current collaboration between the two entities.
The near-unanimity of rejection among these influential business bodies suggests a significant challenge for the AfD in seeking legitimacy and forging alliances within the traditionally industrial heartland of eastern Germany.
