The German Association of Family Entrepreneurs has changed its strategy regarding the far-right AfD, announcing intentions to engage in dialogue with the party. The decision has provoked a wave of criticism from experts, politicians and business. Deutsche Bank, in response, terminated the association's lease agreement.
Economists' position
Many experts see no grounds for a constructive discussion with the AfD. Matthias Dirmayer of the Cologne Institute for the German Economy is convinced that implementing the party's programme would have catastrophic consequences for the entire economy.
Volker von Vitzleben, coordinator of the entrepreneurial initiative "Diversity – is the Future", says openness, diversity and social cohesion are the foundation of a strong economy. According to him, research shows that the AfD's key positions contradict an open society and threaten the economy's competitiveness.
Reaction of politicians
SPD economic politician Sebastian Roloff told Handelsblatt that a party classified as "unequivocally right-wing radical" cannot be an ordinary partner for conversation. The fact that many people vote for the AfD out of disappointment with other parties is not a reason for normalization.
Entrepreneurs' arguments
Mari-Christine Ostermann, president of the Association of Family Entrepreneurs, explained that the "ban on contacts" with AfD MPs in the Bundestag was lifted at the last parliamentary evening in early October. Already in spring the association decided to start a dialogue with individual experts from the party.
She says the party needs to be called into a substantive debate. Support for the AfD may fade when it becomes clear that under "loud slogans" politicians are often "substantively empty or contradictory". But that only becomes apparent in direct exchange of views.
Consequences for entrepreneurs
In October family entrepreneurs rented Deutsche Bank premises for a parliamentary evening and invited AfD representatives for the first time. The bank cancelled the lease for the association's next event.
The association's chief executive Albrecht von der Hagen told The Pioneer that the "firewall gave nothing." Now they are entering into professional exchanges to show that with the AfD's economic policy everyone will suffer a "phenomenal collapse."
AfD's position
AfD parliamentary managing director in the Bundestag Bernd Baumann told journalists in Berlin that the "firewall" is slowly beginning to crumble. There are increasing contacts and groups looking for channels for dialogue. Entrepreneurs understand "how we are driving into a wall."
Context
The AfD is classified by German intelligence services as an unequivocally right-wing radical party. Most German parties and business associations adhere to the "firewall" policy – a refusal of any cooperation with the far-right.
