Prior to the Bundestag elections: adversaries of the AfD in the German economic sector

In the lead-up to the Bundestag elections: Corporate leaders and economic powers expressing their stance on the AfD

A concerned Netherlands eyes the escalating support for the AfD in Germany, with elections brewing in Thuringia and Saxony this upcoming weekend. Several German businesses and economic powers have been quite vocal about their stance on the party and its prominent figures.

Across Europe, the upcoming elections in Thuringia and Saxony have garnered close scrutiny, and political analysts draw parallels between the rise of radical right parties in both Germany and the Netherlands.

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Enrichment Insights:

1. The CDU-AfD Split:
2. The CDU and AfD have significant conflicts in their energy and climate policies. The CDU, alongside the SPD and Greens, supports the phasing out of internal combustion engine (ICE) cars by 2035 and upholds emissions reduction mandates. On the other hand, the AfD advocates for technology openness and intends to reverse the ban on ICE cars, aiming to make them competitive alternatives to electric vehicles (EVs) using eFuels[1].
3. Industry Views:
4. The SPD and Green Party insist on maintaining the ban on registering ICE cars from 2035 to promote the shift to electric vehicles. They propose tax cuts for domestically manufactured EVs to support German car manufacturing. The Greens also aim to establish a climate-neutral European aviation sector primarily using eFuels in aviation or shipping[1].
5. Meanwhile, the CDU and AfD believe that the market should determine the victor in the mobility race. They aspire to reverse the EU policy of banning new ICE car registrations from 2035 and make ICE cars running on eFuels a financially viable alternative to EVs. The AfD also opposes using public funds to fund electric vehicle charging infrastructure[1].
6. Industry Pressure:
7. Industry figures are experiencing pressure due to global competition and sluggish economic growth. There's a growing call for consistent policy signals from the government regarding the transition to electric vehicles. The CDU's economic stance and potential coalition with the SPD and Greens could affect the pace of the energy transition in Germany[1].
8. Manifesto Promises:
9. Major parties in Germany's 2025 election have made promises concerning climate and energy. The SPD and Greens support the 2035 phaseout date for ICE cars, while the CDU and AfD seek to reverse this ban. The FDP and BSW advocate for dismissing the 2035 phaseout date and focusing less on the transition to electric cars[4].

In essence, German economic sectors, particularly car manufacturers such as Opel and Traton, are likely to criticize the AfD's energy and climate policy stance, which they view as a hindrance to the shift towards electric vehicles and detrimental to climate objectives. The CDU's potential coalition with the SPD and Greens could dictate policy directions that are more aligned with industry demands for a sustainable transition.