The rise of the far right alarms German business leaders

When the ADbDIADeuADAlternative for Germany (f, from its German initials) was launched in 2013, it was a pro-business, classically liberal party created by German intellectuals opposed to the single European currency. Hans-Olaf Henkel, a free-market enthusiast and former boss of the , the main German industry association, was a founding member. Then, in the space of a few years, the f turned into an anti-immigrant, populist party toying with Dexit—Germany’s exit from the . Mr Henkel quit in 2015. German bosses turned their backs. Despite being generally reluctant to voice political opinions, many came out strongly against the f ahead of the election to the European Parliament on June 9th.