Archive · 11 Oct 2026
Deutsche Bank Chief Warns Election Results Could Deter Investors
Germany’s largest bank is worried about recent election results.
Its chief, Christian Sewing, said wins by parties at the political extremes could make foreign investors less interested in Germany.
He said investors may not separate results in one state from the country as a whole.
The AfD did very well in two eastern German states.
The Left Party won strongly in a Berlin city government election and promised to take over property company holdings.
Sewing said these developments are not helpful for investment or economic growth.
He asked Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s government to keep working on reforms.
He described reform as the government’s response to political extremes.
Deutsche Bank CEO Christian Sewing said victories by political extremes could worry foreign investors.
He warned investors may view state election results as reflecting Germany as a whole.
The AfD narrowly missed an absolute majority in Saxony-Anhalt and later finished first in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
The Left Party pledged to expropriate residential property company holdings to address Berlin’s housing costs.
Sewing urged Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s government to continue reforms to revive the economy.
- Who
- Deutsche Bank chief executive Christian Sewing, foreign investors, and parties including the AfD and Left Party.
- What
- Sewing warned that election victories by political extremes could deter foreign investors and urged continued economic reforms.
- When
- Sewing spoke in an interview published on October 11, referring to elections held the previous month.
- Where
- Germany, including Saxony-Anhalt, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, and Berlin.
- Why
- Sewing said election results may be seen by investors as reflecting Germany as a whole and are not conducive to investment or economic growth.
Political parties’ stated aims
Sewing’s economic concerns
AfD election gains
Political parties’ stated aims
The AfD won strong support in eastern Germany; the article says it seeks to restrict immigration and send asylum seekers home.
Sewing’s economic concerns
Sewing warned that victories by political extremes could worry foreign investors, while economists have accused the AfD of fostering a climate that could drive away skilled workers and investors.
Berlin housing policy
Political parties’ stated aims
The Left Party said it would tackle soaring housing costs by expropriating residential property company holdings.
Sewing’s economic concerns
Sewing said developments in Berlin were not conducive to economic growth or investment.
- Speaker
- Christian Sewing, chief executive of Deutsche Bank
- Report date
- October 11
- AfD result
- Narrowly missed an absolute majority in Saxony-Anhalt and later finished first in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
- Left Party pledge
- Expropriate residential property company holdings to tackle Berlin’s housing costs
- Investor concern
- Foreign investors may interpret state election results as reflecting Germany as a whole
- Sewing’s recommendation
- The government should continue reforms to revive the economy