Numerous German corporations are countering the AfD's stance.
Corporations are often perceived as being neutral in regards to politics, but several German companies have made their feelings known towards the AfD leading up to the European elections. A report published by the Cologne Institute for Economic Research (IW) on Wednesday shows that approximately 47% of the companies surveyed have expressed a stance against the party both publicly and internally. This number rises to 54% when taking into account companies with an internal stance against the AfD.
The study surveyed 905 businesses and discovered that 67% considered none of the party's positions reasonable or justified, whereas 23% found some of their positions acceptable. The IW reported that companies are primarily concerned about the EU and the euro as parts of the AfD advocate for leaving them. If Germany were to exit the EU, which the IW estimates would result in a losses of 690 billion euros in the first five years, the country could lose up to 2.5 million jobs as an exporting nation.
The survey states that 77% of respondents view the AfD as a threat to the EU and the euro. Additionally, the IW indicates that there are concerns over constructive political culture (75.1%), recruiting skilled labor (72.9%), the business location (69.1%), and cohesion among workers (63.4%) if the AfD becomes more powerful in the long run.
Study author Matthias Diermeier concluded, "The findings indicate that businesses are embracing their social responsibility in this critical matter." The majority of those surveyed are aware of the potential dangers posed by the AfD gaining prominence. "This is a promising sign."
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Source: www.ntv.de
