Over 75% of businesses view the escalation of the AfD as a threat.
A large number of bosses working in German businesses are worried about the increasing support for the AfD party, particularly its potential impact on Europe. This is based on a study conducted by the Institute of German Business (IW), which has strong ties with employers.
The IW conducted a survey involving over 900 companies in Germany and found that 77% of respondents feel the European Union and the euro could be at risk due to the AfD. 75% also expressed concerns about a damaged political culture. 19% of participants either couldn't give a clear answer or didn't want to comment. ZDFheute.de was the one to report on this striking revelation on Tuesday.
The AfD experienced a substantial increase in public approval last year. In eastern German states such as Saxony, Thuringia, and Saxony-Anhalt, their following is even above 30%. The IW's study investigated how this party's growth might affect various areas.
Results showed that 73% of companies are worried about the negative consequences that may come from the AfD's rise, including challenges with forming effective governments at both state and national levels and the retention of skilled workers. They are less concerned about their own company's prospects. 63% believe the cohesiveness of their workforce could suffer due to the AfD's influence. Larger companies and those in the service sector expressed more skepticism toward the AfD.
Just under 3.5% of the companies surveyed see a positive potential for the European Union because of the AfD's power. This percentage is also low for all other topics discussed. The most prominent percentage is for the assessment of 8% of top management from each company – they consider the AfD's rise an opportunity for effective government formation and Germany's reputation as a business hub.
However, about 25% of company bosses agree that the AfD's stances, on some level, are sensible or justifiable. Numerous businesses have openly criticized the party. 54% of the survey respondents claim they have done so within their own organization, while 47% of them have publicly spoken out against the party.
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- Given the survey results, many German companies view the growth of the AfD as a potential risk to their business location, with 73% expressing concerns about the negative consequences.
- The AfD's increasing support in regions like Saxony and Thuringia has scarce businesses exploring the potential impact on Germany's reputation as a strong business location, which could weaken its attractiveness to international companies.
- To mitigate this risk, some companies are strengthening their internal policies to demonstrate their stance against the AfD's positions, with 54% of respondents claiming they have done so within their organization.
- The instability caused by the AfD's presence in politics could have a significant impact on the risk-assessment percentages for investing in Germany, potentially discouraging foreign businesses from establishing a location in the country.
Source: www.ntv.de
