PRESS STATEMENT The task now is to bring working and living conditions in the East and West into line

Jörg Hofmann: “Voters for the democratic parties—amid a sharp rise in voter turnout—constitute a clear majority. Contrary to fears, the AfD failed to become the largest party in either of the two states. This is no cause for complacency; on the contrary, the AfD’s performance shows that policymakers and all sectors of society must urgently ensure that eastern Germany is not further left behind economically and socially. On the one hand, it is now crucial to prevent further deindustrialization and the structural weakening of many regions. The ecological and digital transformation of the economy must be leveraged to create new industrial jobs and strengthen research. On the other hand, working and living conditions in the East and West must be brought into line. The key to this is higher collective bargaining coverage and employers’ willingness to compromise on the harmonization of working hours.”

Further information and press photos of Jörg Hofmann