Located in eastern Germany, the city of Jena is grappling with political uncertainties as the far-right Alternative for Germany party (AfD) gains traction ahead of the upcoming elections in Thuringia on Sept. 1. The AfD's anti-foreigner stance has raised concerns among businesses like Jenoptik, a leading technology company in Jena, which heavily relies on attracting skilled workers from outside Germany.
Jenoptik's CEO, Stefan Traeger, expressed worries about the impact of the AfD's rise on the company's ability to recruit talent, with potential employees expressing reluctance to work in a region dominated by a hard-right party that promotes exclusionary policies towards migrants and minorities.
