The leadership of the Green Party in the German Bundestag has sharply condemned the recent shift by the Association of Family Businesses (Familienunternehmen e.V.) towards a willingness to engage in dialogue with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. Konstantin von Notz and Andreas Audretsch, the parliamentary group’s deputy leaders, voiced their concerns in a statement to the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland, branding the AfD as a party that security services have explicitly flagged as extremist.
The Greens’ representatives questioned the motives of Marie-Christine Ostermann, the association’s president, suggesting her pronouncements might be driven by a personal political agenda rather than reflecting the views of the vast majority of family-owned businesses. They underscored a responsibility for the association’s approximately 6,500 member companies to scrutinize whether Ostermann’s leadership authentically represents their interests, particularly given the controversial nature of the proposed dialogue.
Von Notz and Audretsch emphasized the crucial role businesses must play in combating extremism and defending Germany’s liberal democratic system, drawing parallels to the nation’s historical context. They highlighted that many German companies actively serve as a bulwark against the rise of right-wing extremism, recognizing the vital contribution of international talent, diversity and open-minded innovation to continued success. The Green politicians expressed hope for a rapid correction of the recent, historically insensitive statements emanating from the Association of Family Businesses, urging a reaffirmation of commitment to democratic values.