Habeck: AfD is an "alternative for deindustrialization"

Two days before the state elections, Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) has warned that the AfD could cause damage to Germany as a business location. The party is the "alternative for deindustrialization", Habeck said at an election campaign event of the Saxon Greens in Dresden this evening.

Many companies and business associations had warned against voting for the AfD. "If the economy stands up now, everyone must have understood," said the Green politician.

In view of the elections in Thuringia and Saxony, various business representatives had expressed concern in recent days about the AfD joining the government. This would cause enormous damage to the economy and prosperity in eastern Germany, said Siegfried Russwurm, President of the Federation of German Industries (BDI).

The supermarket chain Edeka published a campaign with the sentence: "Why blue is not an option at Edeka" - this is to be understood as an allusion to the AfD party color.

Already "more work than hands"

Never before has a president of German industry made an election recommendation so clearly, said Habeck. It was clear that the AfD would destroy Germany as a business location. Germany needs people "who are not just called Franz or Robert", he said. There is already "more work than hands". Skilled workers from abroad are therefore urgently needed.

In current polls, the AfD is polling around 30 percent in Saxony. However, all other relevant parties have ruled out a coalition with the party, which is classified in Saxony as a certain right-wing extremist.