The Bundesverband Druck und Medien e. V. (German Printing and Media Industries Federation) vehemently disagrees with the statements made by Federal Election Commissioner Dr Ruth Brand that new elections are not possible due to a shortage of paper and a lack of capacity at printing companies. The German printing industry is ready and able to print the ballot papers.
‘In order to divert attention from her own organisational and administrative problems, the Federal Returning Officer is passing the buck to the paper and printing industry. This damages the reputation of our industry and is unacceptable,’ said Kirsten Hommelhoff, Managing Director of the BVDM, criticising Brand’s statement. The German print and media industry is a reliable partner that stands by its customers, including politicians and public authorities, and is also extremely efficient in the short term. Hommelhoff emphasises: ‘If orders are placed promptly, print shops can produce the ballot papers for an early general election.’
The BVDM is also in favour of early elections. After all, a hung parliament would be bad for the economy in our country. With a provisional budget without a clear majority in parliament, no new infrastructure measures can be approved and urgently needed impulses for Germany as a business location can be decided. ‘We cannot afford a standstill and need to boost the economy now,’ says Kirsten Hommelhoff.
BVDM
The Bundesverband Druck und Medien e. V. (bvdm) is the umbrella organisation of the German printing industry. As an employers’ organisation, political trade association and technical trade association, it represents the positions and objectives of the printing industry in dealings with politicians, the administration, trade unions and the supplier industry. The bvdm is supported by eight regional associations. Internationally, it is organised through its membership of Intergraf and FESPA. The printing industry currently comprises around 6,500 predominantly small and medium-sized companies with more than 106,000 employees subject to social security contributions.
