Merz warns of industrial job losses in the VW crisis

Chancellor Friedrich Merz has warned of further losses of industrial jobs in view of the crisis at Volkswagen. Volkswagen is an example of the difficult situation of the automotive industry in Germany and Europe, said the CDU leader at his party's election campaign event in Langenhagen near Hanover.

“We are currently losing a large number of industrial jobs,” warned Merz shortly before the Lower Saxony local elections. We must and want to stop this trend. "Germany must remain an industrial country!"

The Chancellor welcomed the latest agreement in the VW Supervisory Board. An open dispute over the management of the group, including an extraordinary general meeting, would have been “anything but helpful.” However, the agreement is initially only provisional.

Merz highlighted the special importance of the group for Lower Saxony. "No other country is as strongly influenced by a large industrial company as Lower Saxony." The fate of Volkswagen is therefore not comparable to that of any private company. The car manufacturer also provided numerous jobs at suppliers as well as in trade and commerce.

Lechner accuses the state government of failings

Lower Saxony's CDU state leader Sebastian Lechner accused the state government of failings. It was already foreseeable two years ago that Volkswagen was facing difficulties. This time should have been used to develop perspectives for the Lower Saxony factories.

Lechner also welcomed the agreement, but criticized the continued lack of clarity for several locations. Among other things, a decision on the future of the plants in Hanover and Emden should be made by June of next year. The CDU will work constructively on solutions, said Lechner.

The VW supervisory board had approved a comprehensive restructuring of the company. This envisages a further reduction of tens of thousands of jobs and a reduction in the model range. The future of four German plants initially remains open.

dpa/jm