German family businesses backtrack on AfD engagement: 'A mistake'

WISE NEWS PRESS / BERLIN, Germany — Dec. 1, 2025

The Association of Family Businesses (Die Familienunternehmer) in Germany has reversed its stance following a backlash over inviting the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party to an official event. Association President Marie-Christine Ostermann admitted the invitation was "a mistake."

The decision to invite AfD members to the "Parliamentary Evening" in October marked a first for the association representing major family-owned companies, triggering a crisis within the German business community. Following severe criticism and the resignation of prominent members, the board has decided to re-evaluate its engagement with the far-right party.

'Intended the opposite result'

Speaking after a board meeting, President Marie-Christine Ostermann argued that their goal was never to legitimize the AfD. "By inviting AfD MPs, we aimed to let them hear from us that their party program is anti-economic and damaging to Germany's location," Ostermann stated.

However, she conceded that the outcome was contrary to their intentions:

"Due to the party's statements, an impression was created in the public eye that we wanted to strengthen the AfD. This was a mistake. We need to find other ways to critically confront the AfD."

Resignations from major brands

The association's initial overture to the AfD led to the departure of significant member companies. The drugstore giant Rossmann, which also operates in Turkey, along with appliance manufacturer Vorwerk and beverage brand Fritz-Kola, announced their resignation from the association in protest.

Ostermann emphasized that the association maintains distance from extremists and that their stance towards the AfD will be reviewed with members in the coming weeks and months.

Political reaction

The association's U-turn was welcomed by the government and the opposition. Dennis Radtke, head of the labor wing of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), noted that "the threat of losing members and revenue has clearly had an effect on business leaders."

Georg Maier, the Social Democratic (SPD) Interior Minister of Thuringia, called the decision to review the stance correct but criticized the association's management for initially contributing to the "normalization of a racist-nationalist party," describing it as a grave error.

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