As of: February 4, 2024, 10:56 a.m
By: Markus Hofstetter
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Split
In a letter to the Chancellor, the heads of the Eastern IHKs do not skimp on criticism of the traffic lights.
But you also have a tip for him.
Berlin - The East German economy is concerned about the rise of right-wing extremism.
“At the beginning of the 2024 election year, we are very concerned about the future of our business location, social cohesion and democratic culture,” write the presidents of the 14 chambers of commerce and industry in the five eastern German states in an open letter to Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD).
Incendiary letter from the IHK bosses to Chancellor Scholz: a place of longing for right-wing extremists
“The federal government also has a significant share in this,” it continues.
The desolate public image of the federal government and the heated mood throughout the country are self-inflicted and, not least in view of the upcoming elections in Thuringia, Saxony and Brandenburg, grist for the mill of extreme forces.
According to current surveys, the AfD is currently the strongest force in the three countries.
However, the party is losing support at the federal level.
The signatories are therefore calling on the traffic light to fundamentally change its actions and appearance.
Otherwise, “we fear that one East German federal state after the next will degenerate into a place of desire for right-wing extremists and economically into a transit country.”
The Eastern IHKs criticize the political style of the traffic light government © Kay Nietfeld/dpa
The Eastern IHKs primarily criticize the federal government's political style.
In the letter you criticize a lack of “inclusion of various interests in the political process”.
Instead, a culture of “decision-making without involvement” and a “glaring difference between the words and actions of the federal government” are spreading.
Fire letter from the IHK bosses in the East to Chancellor Scholz: Many sources of fire could become a wildfire
The chambers specifically named the federal budget scandal at the end of last year.
This has “caused significant eruptions in the economy and society,” it is said, with a view to the protests by farmers and middle classes.
Many sources of fire that had already existed before could become a wildfire as a result of the federal government's handling of the Karlsruhe ruling.
The letter also criticizes the federal government's lack of commitment to technological openness in the energy sector, the lack of reduction in bureaucracy and the inflating of social benefits, which provides "incentives for not working".
All of this leads to an erosion of Germany's international competitiveness.
The heads of the Eastern IHKs also have a recommendation for Scholz on how this development can be stopped.
“Mr Chancellor, the best remedy against right-wing populism is fact-oriented and coordinated political work.
Accept your responsibility!” it says at the end of the letter.
Incendiary letter from the IHK bosses to Chancellor Scholz: SPD in the east is fighting back
The SPD defends itself against the criticism.
“The integration you are demanding requires that you be honest in your assessment of the situation and political possibilities,” the
Handelsblatt
quotes from a letter from the speakers of the regional groups of the eastern German federal states and the board of the eastern regional group of the SPD parliamentary group to the IHK presidents .
There is neither a lack of political will nor a lack of concepts for investing in the transformation of the economy, but simply a lack of money at the moment.
However, they are also concerned about “extreme political forces and radical parties” that are trying to “exploit crises.”
This increases the “temptation of simple answers and the allocation of responsibility”.
Therefore, they want to take up the request of the chamber presidents to actively integrate their interests into the political process, which is “a mutual obligation”.