Thuringia’s AfD leader has taken on the business community and is receiving a lot of backlash for statements made during an election campaign speech – and not only in Thuringia.
After his attack on a corporate initiative for diversity and tolerance, Thuringia’s AfD leader and top candidate for the state election is receiving criticism nationwide. The president of the Federation of German Industries (BDI), Siegfried Russwurm, told the “Welt” newspaper that Höcke’s comments were alarming for the economy and showed the party’s incompetence.
A few days ago, Thuringia’s AfD right-winger called the “Made in Germany – Made by Diversity” campaign by family businesses hypocrisy at an election campaign appearance in Sömmerda. “I hope that these companies will experience serious, serious economic turbulence,” he said, as video recordings show.
Russwurm told the newspaper that he fears that the AfD’s aggressive xenophobia will exacerbate the existing problem of the shortage of skilled workers in Germany. Höcke’s comments show “that AfD participation in government would massively damage the economy and prosperity in East Germany.” The AfD wrongly presents itself as the voice of the local medium-sized economy.
A lot of headwind also in Thuringia
Massive criticism has also come from the Thuringian Business Association, the Thuringian Family Business Organization and chamber representatives in Freisaat in recent days. Leading candidates from almost all other parties accused the AfD of pursuing anti-business policies. Höcke has rejected this.
SPD top candidate Georg Maier said in a TV round that he knew of skilled workers who did not want to come to Thuringia because of the social climate, “which is of course largely shaped by Mr Höcke and the AfD.” Katja Glybowskaja of the AWO, the chairwoman of the League of Independent Welfare Organizations in Thuringia, also said that she feared serious consequences in the social landscape if right-wing extremist voices gained power. “We appeal to people not to join forces with right-wing extremist forces,” said Glybowskaja.
Supermarket chain places advertisements
The president of the German Retail Association (HDE), Alexander von Preen, said this week that “with Björn Höcke, one of the leading figures of the AfD has once again unmasked himself.” According to the HDE, there are currently around 120,000 vacancies in the retail sector nationwide. “Where are all the people supposed to come from if politicians who rely on exclusion and isolation come to power?” asked von Preen.
The supermarket chain Edeka published a full-page appeal in the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung”, in the weekly newspaper “Die Zeit” and on social networks. The ad is titled “Why blue is not an option at Edeka”. This is to be understood as an allusion to the AfD, which has used blue as its party colour since its founding. The ad shows numerous types of fruit and vegetables such as cucumbers, broccoli, bananas, cherries and strawberries. “The fruit and vegetable department is full of colourful variety,” the text says. “Evolution has taught us: blue is not a good choice,” it says. “In Germany, the blues are already the greatest threat to a diverse society.”
Source: Stern
