Strong criticism of Ford in the Saar state parliament

Created: 06/22/2022, 10:30 am

A Ford logo can be seen on some signage.

© Gerry Broome/AP/dpa/symbol picture

A plenary session of the Saarland state parliament began on Wednesday with sharp criticism of the Ford car company because of its feared withdrawal from the Saarlouis production site.

"This management played off thousands of employees in Saarlouis and Valencia against each other in an ice-cold and ruthless manner," said the chairman of the SPD parliamentary group, Ulrich Commerçon.

Saarbrücken – The management wanted to announce on Wednesday whether a future electric car will be produced in Saarlouis or in Valencia, Spain.

If a decision is made in favor of Valencia, 4,600 jobs in Saarlouis and almost 2,000 other jobs in supplier companies are at stake.

Commerçon said the group's management had "exercised immense pressure" and fueled existential fears: "Psychological pressure up to the breaking point and beyond." would be deprived".

"What a shame!" said Commerçon.

"Saarland has always stood by Ford, now Ford must also stand by Saarland." If a so-called bidding process was "tricked" in the competition between Saarlouis and Valencia, "then it must be the most expensive plant closure in Ford's history".

The CDU parliamentary group leader Stephan Toscani said that the country had "reached the limits of its financial capacity" with its offer to Ford.

The Saarland “not just made any offer, but the best offer”.

For years, workers have lived in uncertainty about the future.

They would have supported short-time work, the cancellation of a night shift and the elimination of entire production lines in order to secure the location: "You deserve a reliable future perspective all the more now." dpa