German companies are increasingly facing a dilemma: how to support a politically and socially liberal society without crossing the “red line” of issuing voting instructions or partisan communications. This challenge is particularly acute given the rise of the far-right AfD party, whose growth relies on a local political level where engagement is often intense. This context is especially relevant in Hesse, where municipal elections are scheduled for 15 March. To address this dilemma with a positive, open approach, the regional branch of the state-owned development bank KfW launched the “Democracy Charter” in mid-February 2026 to support local political engagement.
As a Berlin correspondent for the French and Swiss press since the late 1990s, I cover a wide range of economic, political and social issues, with a particular focus on the German business and labour market. My areas of interest include co-determination, digitalisation, demographics and ESG/DEI policies.