Leading economists are sharply criticizing the Association of Family Businesses (Familienunternehmen) for its recent shift towards engagement with the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, raising concerns about the potential legitimization of a populist agenda and the detrimental impact on Germany’s economic stability.
Jens Südekum, personal economic advisor to Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil, condemned the move in an interview with “Handelsblatt”, characterizing the association as becoming a “riding crop for the right-wing populists”. Südekum argued that meaningful dialogue with the AfD is fundamentally impossible, accusing the party of adopting a posture of opportunistic flexibility to appease various constituencies within the family business sector while masking a lack of credible economic policy. He warned that the AfD’s willingness to adopt any position to gain support effectively avoids crucial economic discussions.
Economic advisor Achim Truger echoed these sentiments, expressing profound disbelief at the perceived naiveté of the Association of Family Businesses in expecting positive, sustainable contributions from the AfD. He questioned the rationale behind opening channels of communication with a party whose core principles represent a significant departure from established economic frameworks.
Both economists challenged the AfD’s self-proclaimed economic competence. Südekum highlighted the party’s tendency to offer universal promises – ranging from unrealistic pension levels to substantial tax cuts and widespread subsidies for families – without proposing viable plans for funding. He estimates that the implementation of the AfD’s platform could create a “massive financial hole in the triple-digit billion range” within the public budget.
Further concerns were raised regarding the AfD’s more radical proposals. Südekum cited the party’s calls for a German exit from the European Union (“Dexit”) as a potential “death blow” to the German industrial sector. Truger also underscored the significant geopolitical risks posed by the AfD’s Euroscepticism, explicitly noting that a party rejecting the EU and its internal market introduces considerable uncertainty for Germany’s export-dependent economy.
The economists further scrutinized the AfD’s approach to addressing Germany’s persistent skills shortage. By adopting a hostile stance towards migration and foreign workers – factors crucial for filling current vacancies – the party demonstrates a lack of practical solutions to the problem which greatly distresses many businesses. “What is appealing about that?” Truger questioned pointedly, suggesting that the Association of Family Businesses is acting against its own long-term interests.
