Retail federation chief warns AfD policies could cripple German trade sector

Stefan Genth, chief executive of the Handelsverband Deutschland, warned that the AfD’s platform threatens the stability of Germany’s retail industry. He argued that abandoning the euro and leaving the EU would be "absolutely hostile to the economy" and deemed a EU exit "completely impossible." Genth singled out the party’s push for "remigration" as an existential risk, saying the sector relies on workers with migration histories and could collapse without them.

Representing about 100,000 retail firms employing 3.1 million people, he said the AfD’s recent win in Saxony-Anhalt is already creating a difficult climate and occasional hostility for shop owners. While noting no measurable loss of migrant staff yet, he cited warning signs such as job postings that hide locations, potentially deterring migrant professionals. Genth concluded that the party’s lack of state-level responsibility makes it unsuitable for governance.