Relaxdays founder says he knows no entrepreneur voting AfD, voicing concerns about Germany's business outlook ahead of the Saxony‑Anhalt state election
Executive summary: Relaxdays founder Martin Menz stated he knows no entrepreneur who votes for the AfD and expressed concern about Germany's business environment and his company's turnaround. The comment highlights a possible disconnect between AfD electoral strength in Saxony‑Anhalt and entrepreneur support, which could influence local policy debates and the party's ability to implement its agenda.
Who is involved: Martin Menz (Relaxdays founder), AfD, entrepreneurs in Saxony‑Anhalt, German policymakers.
Likely next: Continued discussion of AfD’s appeal to business owners, monitoring of the September 6 state election, and potential policy responses to entrepreneur concerns about taxes and regulation.
Martin Menz, founder of the East German online retailer Relaxdays, told Handelsblatt that he does not know any business owner who supports the Alternative for Germany (AfD). He linked his unease to broader worries about the German location for firms and highlighted the ongoing turnaround of his company. The interview surfaces as a gauge of entrepreneur sentiment in a region where the AfD is polling strongly, suggesting a potential mismatch between far‑right electoral strength and business community backing.
What's next — scenarios
Business-Political Decoupling (50%)
A significant divergence remains between regional populist voting patterns and the pragmatic economic interests of SME owners.
- AfD victory in Saxony-Anhalt without a corresponding drop in regional FDI
- Surveys showing entrepreneur sentiment remains detached from populist voting trends
Entrepreneurial Backlash (30%)
Increased political polarization leads to a brain drain or capital flight of regional founders to more stable jurisdictions.
- Public declarations of relocation by East German business leaders
- Sudden drop in regional venture capital deployment following election results
Economic Stagnation Realignment (20%)
The AfD's electoral strength forces a shift in regional policy that prioritizes protectionism, impacting supply chain reliability.
- Introduction of localized protectionist rhetoric by winning party members
- Legislative shifts targeting cross-border e-commerce logistics
What to watch
- Polling trends in Saxony-Anhalt ahead of the state election (next 30 days)
- Business sentiment indices for Eastern German SMEs (next 60 days)
- Specific policy announcements regarding trade and labor from AfD regional leadership (next 90 days)
Timeline
- — Interview: „Ich kenne keinen Unternehmer, der AfD wählt“: Relaxdays-Gründer Martin Menz sorgt sich um die Zukunft (Handelsblatt)
- — Landtagswahl: AfD in Sachsen-Anhalt laut Umfrage bei 42 Prozent – BSW legt zu (Handelsblatt)
- — AfD: Studie belegt Milliardenlücke im Programm der AfD Sachsen-Anhalt (Handelsblatt)
Analysis — what this means
Likely next events
- Saxony‑Anhalt state election on 2026-09-06
- AfD polling update expected early September 2026
- Potential parliamentary debate on SME tax relief measures in Q4 2026
Sectors affected
- E‑commerce
- Online retail
- German SMEs
Regulatory implications
- Review of trade‑tax provisions for online retailers
- Possible expansion of flat‑rate Werbungskosten deductions for entrepreneurs
- Scrutiny of AfD campaign financing claims ahead of the election
Historical parallels
- AfD surge in the 2021 German federal election
- AfD’s entry into the Bundestag in 2017
Key entities
Sources
- Interview: „Ich kenne keinen Unternehmer, der AfD wählt“: Relaxdays-Gründer Martin Menz sorgt sich um die Zukunft — Handelsblatt
- Landtagswahl: AfD in Sachsen-Anhalt laut Umfrage bei 42 Prozent – BSW legt zu — Handelsblatt
- AfD: Studie belegt Milliardenlücke im Programm der AfD Sachsen-Anhalt — Handelsblatt
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