Tübingen mayor defends lobbyist amid AfD controversy and PNC Bank fallout

A German business lobby’s AfD ties trigger boycotts and a banking giant’s rebuke. Now, Tübingen’s mayor wades into the storm—why?

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2025 November 29 . 5:45 PM

1 min read

In this image there is a conference in which there are people sitting in chair and listening to the... — In this image there is a conference in which there are people sitting in chair and listening to the people who are on the stage. It seems like an event in which there is a conversation between the media people and the owners. At the background there is a big hoarding and the wall beside it.

Tübingen mayor defends lobbyist amid AfD controversy and PNC Bank fallout

Boris Palmer, the independent mayor of Tübingen, has spoken out in support of Marie-Christine Ostermann, the head of the business lobby Die Familienunternehmer. His defence comes after the group faced backlash for hosting an event attended by a representative of the far-right AfD party. The controversy has already led to boycott calls and the cancellation of the association’s lease by PNC Bank.

Ostermann drew criticism when Die Familienunternehmer organized an event in October that included an AfD member. In response, activists launched boycott campaigns against companies linked to the lobbying group. PNC Bank also terminated the association’s lease on its Berlin offices, adding to the pressure.

The dispute has already had concrete consequences, with PNC Bank ending its lease agreement and boycott calls spreading. Palmer’s intervention shifts the focus to broader questions about political engagement and democratic norms. The debate over how to handle the AfD’s presence in public life is likely to continue.