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Russwurm: AfD is harmful to the future of our country

Siegfried Russwurm, President of the Federation of German Industries / Photo: Hannes P. Albert/dpa
Siegfried Russwurm, President of the Federation of German Industries / Photo: Hannes P. Albert/dpa

In view of the upcoming state elections in several eastern German states, industry president Siegfried Russwurm has warned against AfD successes. "A political movement that invokes the turn back to nationalism is harmful for this country: for the economy and for Germany's reputation and success in a global context," Russwurm told the Funke media group newspapers. "We would do well to publicly oppose the AfD's statements: Clearly stating that voting for them is not a harmless protest, but a party that is harmful to the future of our country and all of us."

The President of the Federation of German Industries (BDI) argued that Germany thrives on cosmopolitanism and international trade "probably more than almost any other major country in the world". He called for "a social debate, a social movement to show people the consequences". The AfD is "bad for this country, also because it is fuelling a climate of hatred, polarization and exclusion".

Next autumn, the state parliaments in Saxony, Thuringia and Brandenburg will be newly elected. The AfD was recently ahead in the polls in all three states. The AfD state association in Saxony was recently classified as a secured right-wing extremist organization by the State Office for the Protection of the Constitution; in Thuringia, the state AfD has been classified as such for some time.

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