Saxony-Anhalt election: Siemens Energy chief says AfD sends a “dramatically wrong message”

Christian Bruch, chief executive of Siemens Energy, has issued a forceful warning about the AfD’s economic platform before Saxony-Anhalt’s state election. He said the party’s program, which includes a return to coal and nuclear power, would damage Germany as a business location and in some respects attack democratic structures.

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I consider that absolutely critical.

“Our company and our German jobs depend on exporting, bringing international skilled workers to Germany and giving foreign investors confidence in political stability,” Bruch told the German Press Agency. “If that does not happen, it will harm Germany as a business location.” He said he was watching Sunday’s election with great concern.

Bruch described the AfD’s vision of returning Germany to past successes as a “dramatically wrong message.” He said he did not see the party as open to change, but as “nostalgic, to put it kindly.” Germany’s political leadership, he argued, needed to treat change as an opportunity rather than allow nostalgic politics to push the country further back.

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Our company and our German jobs depend on exporting, bringing international skilled workers to Germany and giving foreign investors confidence in political stability. If that does not happen, it will harm Germany as a business location.

He also dismissed debates about returning to nuclear technology as unhelpful in a closely connected European energy system that includes nuclear power plants in France and facilities being built in the Czech Republic and elsewhere. He said the AfD’s energy-policy positions were not sensible.

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The AfD is sending a dramatically wrong message.

The comments add to a series of warnings from senior business leaders. Deutsche Bank chief Christian Sewing recently said populist parties promised simple answers while promoting policies that ran against the foundations of Germany’s success: openness, diversity, a strong Europe, reliable institutions and international cooperation. He said investors feared an AfD victory as the election approached in a polarized society and with the political center under pressure.

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Populist parties claim to have simple answers. In reality, they promote concepts that run against the foundations of our success: openness, diversity, a strong Europe, reliable institutions and international cooperation.