At next spring’s German works council elections, Zentrum – the 'alternative' union aligned with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party – will seek to strengthen its foothold in major companies and, for the first time, gain a presence in Volkswagen’s western German plants. The organisation aims to build on trends seen in the most recent general election, where the AfD captured 38% of the working-class vote, becoming their leading political force.
Germany holds works council elections every four years, with the next round scheduled from 1 March to 31 May 2026. As candidate lists are now being submitted, early signs of tension are already surfacing. Zentrum, which calls itself the “alternative trade union”, has confirmed to the business newspaper Handelsblatt that it will submit its lists at five Volkswagen car manufacturing sites, including for the first time in western Germany.
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Article authors
Thomas Schnee
Correspondent in Germany
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.