Deutsche Bank chief warns regional election gains could deter investors

Deutsche Bank chief executive Christian Sewing warned that gains by parties at Germany's political extremes could weaken foreign investors' view of the country. His interview was published on October 11.

Speaking to Bild am Sonntag, Sewing said an overseas investor could not necessarily be expected to distinguish a state government's policies from Germany as a whole. Regional results could therefore affect perceptions of the national economy, he argued.

He pointed to Alternative for Germany's successes in Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, and the Left Party's position in Berlin. The latter has advocated expropriating large residential property companies' holdings to address housing costs.

Sewing said these political developments were not conducive to economic growth or attracting capital. He urged Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government to continue reforms aimed at reviving the economy.

The interview sets out a warning about a potential risk. It does not present figures showing a foreign investment outflow caused by September's elections.