Abdelrahman
As German voters prepare to cast their ballots this Sunday, the future of companies like SKW Piesteritz weighs heavily on their minds. Last year, this chemical manufacturing plant reduced its annual Christmas bonus for employees by half and recently closed one of its two ammonia production facilities.
Facing soaring energy prices and what they deem overly stringent regulations in Germany, company leaders are considering relocating their operations overseas. Such a move could put 10,000 jobs at risk within the small community of Lutherstadt Wittenberg, an area already grappling with economic hardship due to previous cutbacks by the firm.
Local mayor Torsten Zugehör expressed grave concerns, stating, “It is a catastrophe.”
While the German election has gravitated towards controversial topics like immigration and the implications of President Trump on the Atlantic alliance, the primary worry for many citizens—highlighted through various polls and interviews—is the sluggish state of Germany’s economy.
Business leaders, employees, and politicians collectively assert that the incoming German chancellor must act swiftly to revitalize the struggling industrial sector. Failure to do so could lead to prolonged economic and political turmoil.
The deterioration of German competitiveness, once a symbol of national pride, is more alarming than ever, according to Petr Cingr, chairman of SKW, which produces fertilizers and diesel additives.
