In the dispute over how to deal with the AfD, Campact is putting pressure on the company’s owners and representatives with a dubious campaign. The campaign organization “progressive politics and strengthening democracy” asks by email to provide information about membership in the association “The Family Businesses”. The employers’ association itself does not provide any information regarding this matter.
The message that Campact sent to companies read: “The family business association is currently being criticized for its decision to invite AfD politicians and thus approach the right-wing extremist party. Our research shows that your company or your company representative is a member of the association “Die Familienunternehmen”. We hereby ask you to provide a brief written confirmation or denial of your association membership by Wednesday, November 26, at 11 am. If we do not receive a response from you by the company deadline, we will assume that your company or your company representative is member of the Family Business Association.” An email containing an ultimatum is available to FAZ.
Rossmann and Vorwerk left the association
A Campact spokesperson confirmed the authenticity of the request. 36 companies were contacted and based on research it was assumed that the owners could be members of the family business. 18 companies have reported back so far. Of these, five people confirmed membership in the association. The majority of these five people were surprised or irritated by the AfD’s decision taken by the family business owner. A list of company names is available at FAZ.
Two well-known companies, drugstore chain Rossmann and home appliances manufacturer Vorwerk, have left the family business following the current debate. “We do not support the establishment of the association ‘The Family Businesses’ and have terminated our membership,” Rossmann said.
Vorwerk, known for its Thermomix automatic cooking machines and Kobold vacuum cleaners, said when asked that it had decided not to revive its membership in the association, which had been dormant for a long time, and had also officially withdrawn from the association. For Vorwerk, it is clear: “In its appearance and some of its political actions, the AfD is fundamentally inconsistent with basic democratic values and constitutional principles.”
Melitta coffee roaster “very surprised”
Last year, ahead of state elections in Thuringia and Saxony, Vorwerk openly advocated openness and tolerance as part of its “Made in Germany, Made by Diversity” campaign. This initiative, involving dozens of well-known family businesses, made headlines at the time because AfD politician Björn Höcke expected participating companies to experience “severe economic turbulence”.
Coffee roaster Melitta is still reconsidering its membership in the family business. The company said it was “very surprised” by the change in association leadership positions. Dialogue with politicians is recommended, but not with parties, some of which are even extremist. “We have communicated our position to the association.”
“We tell them directly what we think about their politics”
The president of the family business, Marie-Christine Ostermann, announced this week that the association had decided to lift the existing federal “ban on contact” with the AfD. Ostermann told FAZ: “Our opinion about the AfD has not changed. Their policies are destructive of democracy and anti-business. The only difference now is: we express our opinion about their policies directly.” In October, the association invited economic politician Leif-Erik Holm as the first AfD representative to a parliamentary evening.
Around 3,500 entrepreneurs from various sectors are members of the association. Anyone who is at least 40 years old and runs a family business with at least ten employees can become a member. The company must generate a turnover of at least one million euros and be registered in the commercial register or craft register. The owner of the family business does not publicize who its members are. An association spokesperson did not want to comment on this, nor on the activists’ resignations and email campaign.
“We want good communication”
A Campact spokesperson told FAZ that the request for membership in the family business was initiated for reasons of transparency. The action is part of a campaign for civil society and against right-wing extremism. “It is important for us to clearly state which companies are members of the association and whether they support the association chairman’s policy of opening up to the AfD,” the spokesperson said. Please keep in mind that membership disclosure may result in negative reactions from business partners or customers.
However, Campact disagrees that the request could be interpreted as a threatening email. “We want good communication and at the same time we want to make sure that we are heard and taken seriously,” the spokesperson said.
Regarding further handling of the answer to this question, he said Campact would ask its member companies to take a stand on the decision of the AfD owner of the family business. “But we always ensure that our actions are appropriate and respect privacy,” he added.
American style organization
The organization was founded in 2004 based on an American model, primarily to reach “progressive-minded voters,” as Campact board member and co-founder Christoph Bautz once put it. In 2014, for example, Campact fought the TTIP trade agreement with demonstrations and online petitions. The organization has also repeatedly been involved in election campaigns, most recently mainly to prevent the AfD from achieving success.
After Campact initially mobilized its followers primarily through a large mailing list and relying on on-site demonstrations, the organization is now increasingly using social platforms. According to its own information, Campact generated revenues of 24.63 million euros in 2024, mainly through contributions from sponsors and donations from more than 4.25 million supporters.
