{
  "id": 1258534,
  "title": "Interview: \"I don't know any entrepreneur who votes for the AfD\": Why this entrepreneur considers the party a threat",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/interview-ich-kenne-keinen-unternehmer-der-afd-wahlt-warum-dieser",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-16T07:08:55.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Handelsblatt",
    "slug": "handelsblatt",
    "url": "https://www.handelsblatt.com/unternehmen/handel-konsumgueter/sachsen-anhalt-warum-relaxdays-gruender-menz-afd-fuer-eine-bedrohung-haelt/100246135.html"
  },
  "original_language": "de",
  "account": "Martin Menz, the entrepreneur behind the company Relaxdays, began his journey two decades ago in his hometown of Halle an der Saale, in Saxony-Anhalt. Starting from his parents' living room, selling head massagers on Ebay, Menz's online business now generates approximately 120 million Euros in annual revenue, employing individuals from 36 different nations. He professes a commitment to diversity. However, recent political surveys indicate the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party leads in Saxony-Anhalt's upcoming September elections. The AfD openly promotes the concept of remigration and has its state branch classified as right-extremist by the constitutional police.\n\nDespite the prevailing silence from most entrepreneurs in similar situations, Menz has taken a stance in an interview with Handelsblatt, addressing both political culture and his concerns for the future.",
  "summary": "Martin Menz, founder of the eastern German online retailer Relaxdays, talks about his feelings before the election in Saxony-Anhalt, problems with the German location and the turnaround of his company.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Handelsblatt",
        "title": "Interview: „Ich kenne keinen Unternehmer, der AfD wählt“: Warum dieser ostdeutsche Gründer die Partei für eine Gefahr hält",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/interview-ich-kenne-keinen-unternehmer-der-afd-wahlt-warum-dieser",
        "published": "2026-08-17T05:15:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}