The newly appointed President of the German Industry Association, Peter Leibinger, has expressed concerns about the potential dangers posed by the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. In an interview with the German news magazine “Spiegel”, Leibinger described his disapproval of the AfD’s stance, citing anti-Semitism and xenophobia as major issues.
“I find many things about this party unbearable” Leibinger said, adding that the party’s anti-foreigner rhetoric is “simply stupid” due to Germany’s reliance on immigration to maintain its workforce.
Leibinger also warned about the potential consequences of the AfD’s calls for a European Union exit, stating that the German economy has greatly benefited from its EU membership and will likely continue to do so in the future.
The industry leader emphasized the importance of business leaders speaking out against the AfD’s ideology, encouraging them to stand by their core values and not just engage in short-term PR efforts. “From our assets and privileges comes a community responsibility” Leibinger said.
Furthermore, Leibinger criticized the trend of US business leaders, such as Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg, adjusting their stance to align with the upcoming US president, Donald Trump. “One must be aware of one’s fundamental values and stand by them, as a private individual, as a company, or as an association. I consider short-term reactions that only serve to curry favor as wrong” he stated.
When asked if Germany needed a charismatic figure like Trump’s advisor, Elon Musk, to drive a bureaucracy-reducing agenda, Leibinger responded, “People who spread provocative messages on social media may not change anything for the better, but rather cause uncertainty and anger towards perceived scapegoats. Such individuals are often more concerned with themselves than the issue at hand.” According to Leibinger, Germany’s success model is built on cooperation, and a broad societal consensus is necessary to revitalize the economy and defend the country’s prosperity.