German chemicals boss criticizes companies’ ties to far-right AfD
The chief executive of German chemical company Evonik has criticized growing ties between mid-sized companies and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
“There is a tendency in particular among small and medium-sized businesses to align themselves with the positions of the AfD,” Christian Kullmann said in an interview with German news magazine Der Spiegel on Sunday.
“I consider this to be disastrous and I call on the industry as a whole to make a clear statement: not with them!”
Kullmann said he was “dismayed and really angry” by the situation of the AfD, an anti-immigrant party that has become Germany’s largest opposition party despite being investigated by national intelligence services for its extremist views.
“Many voters now prefer authoritarian cleansing over democratic discourse,” said Kullmann, 56, whose company generated revenue of 15.2 billion euros ($18 billion) in 2024 and employs more than 30,000 people.
One reason for this is the fear of losing prosperity and societal decline, Kullmann explained. “This is exactly why strengthening our industry is so important.”
The comments came months after the Association of Family Businesses invited AfD representatives to a reception in Berlin, provoking fury from members of the trade group.
Meanwhile, dairy entrepreneur Theo Müller was criticized in a public campaign for his ties to AfD leader Alice Weidel. The 86-year-old denied being a member of the party or financing it.
