Business Associations Face Turmoil Over Engagement With AfD

Two major family-owned companies, Rossmann and Vorwerk, have left the business association Die Familienunternehmer after the organization announced it would resume dialogue with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. Rossmann's spokesperson confirmed their decision, stating, "We do not support the position of the association and have terminated our membership." Vorwerk echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that their corporate values must be grounded in democratic principles. This move follows the association’s president, Marie-Christine Ostermann, revealing plans to lift a prior contact ban with AfD representatives from the Bundestag and engage in discussions with the party despite its controversial standing.

Other companies like Melitta have expressed surprise at this shift, now reconsidering their membership. Melitta clarified they support political dialogue but reject discussions with extremist parties. The Familienunternehmer association, which comprises about 6,500 members, stated it does not back an AfD-involved government but believes in maintaining dialogue with different viewpoints.

Meanwhile, the debate also extends to the North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) family business association, where opinions diverge. Thomas Siepman, leader of a marketing agency in Essen, resigned over his association's willingness to engage with the AfD. He criticized the normalization of dialogue with a party identified by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution as having right-extremist structures, stressing that "one does not conduct 'normal discussions' with right-extremism."

In contrast, NRW regional chairman David Zülow supports discussing content matters with the AfD, noting the party has been invited to events, though they have not attended. This ongoing controversy highlights the tension among German businesses regarding ethical responsibilities and political engagement with a party widely viewed as extremist.