Jena, a city in eastern Germany known for its prestigious university, research institutions, and cutting-edge technology companies, is facing a growing challenge: the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. This right-wing populist party, currently leading the polls in Thuringia with around 30% support, has a strong anti-foreigner stance that is raising alarms among businesses and residents alike.
One of those businesses is Jenoptik, a company that supplies lens assemblies for NASA’s Perseverance rover on Mars and employs over 1,680 people in Jena. Jenoptik, like many other businesses in the region, relies on a diverse workforce, attracting talent from across the globe. However, the AfD’s rhetoric is making it increasingly difficult for Jenoptik to recruit and retain these skilled workers. Many potential employees, concerned about the political climate and the AfD’s anti-immigrant agenda, are hesitant to relocate to Thuringia.
This trend is not unique to Jenoptik. Germany as a whole is facing a severe shortage of skilled labor, with experts estimating that the country needs around 400,000 skilled immigrants each year to compensate for an aging and shrinking workforce. The AfD’s rise, coupled with Germany’s economic challenges, is exacerbating this issue.
Thuringia, one of Germany’s poorest states, has long struggled with a brain drain, as young people, particularly women, seek better opportunities in the more affluent western part of the country. The AfD’s popularity in rural areas, which constitute 70% of Thuringia’s population, is further compounding these issues. The party’s anti-immigrant rhetoric resonates with a segment of the population that feels marginalized and left behind.
The AfD’s influence is not only impacting the local economy but also creating a climate of fear and hostility for immigrants and minorities. Preetam Gaikwad, an Indian electrical engineer who moved to Jena in 2013, has firsthand experience of this. She has encountered subtle racism and blatant discrimination, from being ignored by shopkeepers to being told by an elderly neighbor that she makes her uncomfortable. Gaikwad’s daughter, a 10-year-old girl, was even told by a German child that he was making her body powder to make her “a normal person again.”
The AfD’s rise in Thuringia is a stark reminder of the growing political polarization in Germany and its potential impact on the country’s social fabric and economic future. While the party’s rhetoric may appeal to some, it is causing widespread concern among businesses and residents, who are worried about the future of their state and its ability to attract talent and investment. Only time will tell whether the AfD’s rise is a temporary trend or a sign of a deeper societal shift, but its impact on Thuringia is undeniable.
