Individual companies are already taking a clear stance against right-wing extremism and the AfD. But economists demand: There must be much more – Germany as a location and with it millions of jobs are in danger.
Leading economists are calling on businesses in Germany to take a stronger public stance against right-wing extremism and the AfD. “The board members of companies must now show their colors against the right and remind their employees: ‘Your jobs are in danger if the AfD prevails,'” said the President of the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW), Marcel Fratzscher dpa news agency. Unfortunately, in some companies there is an attitude that politicians alone have to sort it out. “This is wrong, we all have to do this together.”
Although some companies set a good example, others lack the courage, says Fratzscher. The economy and companies would be the big losers of an AfD policy. Then millions of jobs were lost. Without employees from abroad, the shortage of skilled workers will become significantly worse.
IW economist happy about demonstrations against the right
The director of the employer-oriented Institute of the German Economy (IW), Michael Hüther, also warned of the further rise of right-wing extremism and negative consequences for companies: “Democracy and the market economy historically emerged from the same roots at the beginning of European modernity over 200 years ago, in the long term They can only thrive together.”
The economic researcher praised the large participation in the demonstrations against the right. “It’s a good sign that so many people have taken to the streets in recent days for democracy and diversity.” The Weimar Republic could not rely on that. “We need openness instead of isolation – also economically,” said Hüther. Only open borders ensured prosperity.
Only German products – Edeka shows empty ones Supermarket shelves
Individual companies have already taken a clear stance against right-wing extremism. The retail giant Edeka, for example, published a video on its Instagram channel at the weekend with the note: “We love diversity and stand up against the right.”
The company emptied an entire supermarket for the video and only left the products that were exclusively produced in Germany. The result: astonished customers walking through a supermarket with almost empty shelves. By the way, the video is not new, as it was first published six years ago.
Excerpt from an EDEKA advertisement for social diversity.
“For us, only the bottles are brown”
At the weekend, in addition to Edeka, other larger companies such as Adidas, Telekom and Zalando took a clear position against right-wing extremism and published corresponding statements.
But smaller companies are also taking a stand against right-wing extremism and the AfD – and sometimes quite creatively. The Cologne brewery Zur Malzmühle – a 160-year-old family brewery that is run by the fifth generation – posted an advertisement online. Against a green background and next to a Kölsch bottle, the slogan “Only the bottles are brown for us” is emblazoned.
Cologne family brewery takes a stand.
Minister of Labor Heil warns of location risks
Just at the weekend, Federal Labor Minister Hubertus Heil called on businesses to take a stand against the right. Heil told the “Rheinische Post” (Saturday) that he was happy about every business representative who took a clear position against the AfD and Nazis. “We are an open society, and our economic success is based on this.” Germany is not an island. “Our economy is internationally networked. That’s why we can’t afford racism and nationalism,” warned the SPD politician.
It must be clear to everyone that the AfD is a locational risk, “a party that not only attacks our democracy, but also harms our country economically and socially,” said Heil. “Qualified specialists that we urgently need to attract to Germany will only come if they can be sure that they will not be excluded or even threatened here.”
A few days ago, the President of the Federation of German Industries (BDI), Siegfried Russwurm, also warned against the AfD. As an export country, Germany benefits like no other from cosmopolitanism, international cooperation and trade and European unification. “The fact that a strong political party is gaining space in this country that questions all of this is economically dangerous.”
Economy in Saxony fears damage to its image
In view of the latest AfD survey results, the economy in Saxony fears damage to the state’s image. “We have to remember that we depend on the best minds worldwide – both in science, industry and crafts,” said Sylvia Pfefferkorn, deputy spokeswoman for the Economy for a Cosmopolitan Saxony association. It is becoming increasingly difficult to get people excited about Saxony as a place to live.
The association sees a central role in the management levels: “It is important that the entrepreneur takes on a role model function; he must shine through to the workforce,” says Pfefferkorn. There are state elections in Saxony on September 1st. According to a current Forsa survey, the AfD is the strongest force with 34 percent.