After the Association of Family Businesses opened up for talks with the AfD, Verdi boss Frank Werneke called on employers and business associations to take a clear position. The association under President Marie-Christine Ostermann is in danger of “finally drifting to the right,” Werneke told the newspapers of the Funke media group.
“History reminds us how important it is to clearly demarcate business from right-wing extremists.” He pointed to historical parallels to the support of the NSDAP by industrialists in 1933. “So: Defend the beginnings!” he said.
The debate was triggered by a parliamentary evening organized by the association in October, to which AfD representatives were invited for the first time. Ostermann told the “Handelsblatt” that the “ban on contact” with AfD members of the Bundestag had been lifted. As a result, the drugstore chain Rossmann and the household appliance manufacturer Vorwerk canceled their memberships in the association.
Entrepreneur Christ: Responsible as an entrepreneur
The Berlin entrepreneur Harald Christ also turned his back on the association. “I left the association because I take a clear stance in favor of a free, cosmopolitan and democratic economic policy,” he told the dpa. For him, the latest developments in the association and individual positions no longer provide the necessary distance from political forces that are incompatible with these basic values. The portal “The Pioneer” reported on Christ’s departure a few weeks ago.
DGB calls for a stand for the firewall
Anja Piel from the board of the German Federation of Trade Unions (DGB) also called on the association’s member companies to stand clearly behind the AfD’s firewall. She told the Funke newspapers that moving “to the right” would endanger democracy, international reputation and business location. Accordingly, the AfD’s isolation policy makes it considerably more difficult to secure skilled workers and threatens the ability of hospitals and care facilities to work.
Business families also have a special historical responsibility, she said, referring to the involvement of German companies during the Nazi era.
Association does not want AfD government participation
The association defended its course. Discussing with people who think differently does not mean accepting their positions, said Ostermann. At the same time, they don’t want a government with AfD participation, because their worldview doesn’t fit with the association’s basic freedom and market economy beliefs.
Europa Park founder Roland Mack called for an open exchange. The 76-year-old told the “Südkurier” that he believes it is necessary and right to talk to people who make up a large proportion of the vote. You should be open to exchanging arguments. “I have a problem when you shouldn’t talk to certain people in our society,” emphasized Mack. That doesn’t necessarily mean that we have to reach a common opinion and make joint decisions; we can have controversial discussions.