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Read moreHow business is responding to the rise in populism
Companies don’t usually get involved directly in politics. But, say Enrique de Diego and Simon Caulkin, that is now changing
Business has been growing alarmed at the rise of extremist political parties in Europe.
In Germany, the car manufacturer, Volkswagen, and, the steelmaker, Thyssenkrupp have urged their employees to reject right-wing populism, while Deutsche Telekom has warned of the “dramatic effect of the rise of new nationalism on the economies in Europe” and urged citizens to “fight for the freedom we have achieved.”
As the Conservative UK government moves to the right to counter the appeal of the populist, anti-EU UKIP and Brexit Party, two-thirds of UK CEOs have expressed their concern at the growing resort to protectionism, as a survey of 1,300 top executives from KPMG shows.
Meanwhile, employers association Confederation of British Industry (CBI) warns that the country’s “long-held reputation as a stable, common-sense place to do business is being openly questioned”, with long-term consequences for both small companies currently doing business in the EU, and investment.
