AfD on the economy

The AfD wants to strengthen trades, service firms and manufacturers by cutting rules, lowering energy and fuel prices and improving infrastructure. Starting a business is to become easier, backed by loan guarantees and longer founder grants. It rejects tax-subsidized flagship projects.

The AfD wants to help small and mid-sized companies. It wants to remove rules. Energy and fuel should cost less. People who start a company should get more help. The AfD does not want big projects paid for with tax money.

The platform calls small and mid-sized firms the basis of Saxony's economy because they create most jobs in the region. It lists lower energy and fuel prices, less red tape, better infrastructure and fewer state rules. Founders are to receive loan guarantees from the idea stage through implementation, and startup competitions are to be supported. Side-business spin-offs and founder grants are to be extended to up to five years. In the AfD's view, national and European rules weigh most heavily on smaller firms. The party is critical of compulsory memberships that bring no benefit to the company.

The AfD wants to bring back the Meisterpflicht (the requirement to hold a master craftsman certificate to run a business) in all trades. It says this would ensure fair competition and higher quality. More vocational training centers are also to be set up in rural districts.

The AfD wants the master craftsman rule back in all trades. This means only a master may run a trade business. The AfD says this makes work better. There should be more training centers in the countryside.

According to the platform, lower training standards, dropping the master requirement in many trades and the end of the German Diplom degree have damaged the reputation of German products. A full master requirement is meant to strengthen trades and industry and create fair market conditions. Additional training centers in rural districts are meant to support the countryside and keep young people from moving away.

The AfD wants regional considerations to take priority in public tenders in order to secure local jobs. To support Saxony's breweries, the beer tax is to be scrapped.

The state gives contracts to companies. The AfD wants companies from the region to count more. This should keep jobs in Saxony. The tax on beer should end. This should help breweries.

The platform justifies regional priority by saying Saxon companies give people work and thus a reason to stay. Prosperity, it argues, can only be secured through a thriving economy. Brewing is highlighted as a traditional industry that abolishing the beer tax is meant to help.

The AfD wants to create special economic zones in border regions with little industry, such as Lusatia, the Ore Mountains and the Vogtland. Better infrastructure, simpler rules and well-trained staff are meant to boost these areas economically.

Some regions in Saxony have little industry. These include Lusatia, the Ore Mountains and the Vogtland. The AfD wants special zones for business there. Simpler rules should apply there. Roads and networks should get better too.

The zones are to be located in border areas with weak industry. The platform names improved infrastructure, simplified regulation and skilled workers trained in advance as the tools. As examples of the expected benefit it cites Lusatia as a vacation region and local recreation for urban areas.