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Ahead of the state elections in Thuringia, criticism of the AfD is growing. Companies fear negative effects on the economy if the party wins the election.
Thuringia – The upcoming state elections in Thuringia are causing increasing criticism from the business community, particularly against the AfD and its Thuringian party leader Björn Höcke, who is considered to be right-wing extremist. The fears of companies in Thuringia are focused on the possible effects of an AfD election victory, which could be groundbreaking for some companies.
It is not only local business representatives who are expressing concerns about an AfD election victory with Björn Höcke. © Matthias Bein/dpa
Among the concerned companies is Maximator Hydrogen, a leading provider and developer of hydrogen filling stations in Thuringia. They express concerns that an AfD victory could create unfavorable conditions for the further development of hydrogen. In its election manifesto, the AfD shows skepticism about the expansion of hydrogen, especially the production of green hydrogen. It sees hydrogen as only suitable for meeting energy needs in a limited region and questions a nationwide hydrogen infrastructure. Matthias Kurras, CEO of Maximator Hydrogen, told the Business Week: “In the worst case scenario, this would mean that we would have to leave the Thuringia location, relocate our business and start up somewhere else.”
State election in Thuringia: BDI boss accuses AfD of economic incompetence
But it is not only local business representatives who are raising concerns. Siegfried Russwurm, President of the Federation of German Industries (BDI), accused the AfD of economic incompetence in the run-up to the state elections in Thuringia. He expressed fears that the AfD’s aggressive xenophobia could exacerbate the existing problem of the shortage of skilled workers in Germany. Russwurm also directly attacked Höcke, who had previously polemicized against the “Made in Germany – Made by Diversity” initiative and wished economic damage to the companies involved. Russwurm stressed that Höcke’s comments in Sömmerda in Thuringia showed “that AfD participation in government would massively damage the economy and prosperity in East Germany.” He made it clear that the party falsely presents itself as the voice of local medium-sized businesses.
Current polls indicate that the AfD, with 30 percent, could become the strongest party in Thuringia in the election on Sunday (September 1). These poll results for the AfD are causing concern in the business world. Several industry associations advise against voting for the AfD. The supermarket chain Edeka published a full-page appeal in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, the weekly newspaper Die Zeit and on social networks. The ad is titled “Why blue is not an option at Edeka,” an allusion to the AfD, which uses blue as its party color.
