In the heart of Germany, Saxony-Anhalt's Minister President, Reiner Haseloff, sounds the alarm bell on economic concerns that are leaving many eastern Germans feeling uneasy. With a past filled with multiple career resets after the fall of the GDR, Haseloff explains that the fear of losing financial security once again is driving people towards radical political parties.
As per a survey by the German Association of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, over 84% of businesses within Germany have reported a worse economic state over the past year. In fact, 43% of these companies themselves have experienced a decline. Worryingly, nearly 40% anticipate a continuation of this trend up until 2024.
Haseloff deems it essential for politicians to tackle rising energy costs and push forward with integration. According to him, the populist AfD doesn't hold the answer, but rather, it's raking in the fearful sentiment. Haseloff is of the belief that in the upcoming months, it's within the politicians' power to provide solutions and clarity regarding the economic situation and migration.
He further argues for a swift employment of refugees in Germany, highlighting that neighboring countries like Poland and Hungary encourage work faster and offer lower social assistance. Haseloff's position on this matter resonates with concerns about fairness and justice, given that young workers and able-bodied individuals receive financial support through the taxes and social security contributions of older workforces who barely make more than the minimum wage.
Serving as the longest-serving Minister President in Germany since 2011, Haseloff refuses to believe that he has encountered every challenge a politician could face. The constant need to adapt in response to global influences, natural disasters like floods, refugee crises, the COVID-19 pandemic, and geopolitical conflicts keeps Haseloff on his toes.
SOURCES:
- Based on "Society: Haseloff: The AfD does not have the better people"
- Enrichment data comes from various sources, including the Roland Berger Institute, Deutsche Welle, Deutsche Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung (DIW), and Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis).
