Far-right Zentrum union wins first Volkswagen works council seats in Braunschweig

A far-right-linked union breaks into Volkswagen's labor politics for the first time. How did Zentrum gain a foothold in Braunschweig—and what does it mean for workers?

, and Administrator

2026 March 13 . 9:05 PM

1 min read

The image shows a red stamp with the words "Deutsches Reich" written on it against a black... — The image shows a red stamp with the words "Deutsches Reich" written on it against a black background.

Association Center enters a VW works council for the first time - Far-right Zentrum union wins first Volkswagen works council seats in Braunschweig

The far-right-linked union Zentrum has won seats on a Volkswagen works council for the first time. In the recent election at the Braunschweig plant, the group secured two positions. This marks a shift in its influence beyond southern and eastern Germany.

The Volkswagen Braunschweig works council election saw 35 seats up for grabs. IG Metall dominated with 78.5% of the vote, taking 28 seats. The Christian Metalworkers' Union (CGM) followed with 15% and five seats.

Zentrum, running its own candidate list for the first time at Volkswagen, gained 6.49% of the vote. This result gave the group two seats in Braunschweig. Previously, Zentrum had focused on Mercedes-Benz's Stuttgart-Untertürkheim plant, where it was founded in 2009 as Zentrum Automobil. The organisation has now expanded its reach into northern Germany. Before this election, its activity was mainly concentrated in southern and eastern regions, particularly at Mercedes-Benz locations.

Zentrum's entry into Volkswagen's works council signals a new presence in the company's labour representation. The group's two seats in Braunschweig come alongside IG Metall's strong majority and CGM's smaller share. The election results confirm its growing but still limited influence within the automotive sector.