The dairy patriarch gives an unusually comprehensive insight into his life in Switzerland and his political views. He describes AfD co-leader Alice Weidel as a “friend”.
Theo Müller is one of the most successful German entrepreneurs. The now 84-year-old took over the family business with four employees in 1971 and over the decades has continued to do so with skill, a passion for innovation (“Yoghurt with the corner”), mass-effective advertising (“Alles Müller, … or what?”) and The joy of expansion transformed it into a group with 32,300 employees and a recent turnover of 8.8 billion euros. Such a successful billionaire, whose life’s work is now being continued by his son Stefan, just has to enjoy life. He should be as happy as he was last on his birthday on January 29th to live in a villa near Zurich with a wonderful view of the lake. Yes, it would be obvious that he would relax and retire, happy with what he had achieved, and avoid public attention.
As is well known, the entrepreneur moved to Switzerland for tax reasons, while his milk and delicatessen empire continues to thrive with brands such as “Molkerei Müller”, “Weihenstephan”, “Landliebe”, “Homann” and “Nadler”. Such a man, who has achieved a lot, would have to look favorably from a distance at the center of his empire in Aretsried, west of Augsburg. But then he was interested in the press organ, which he reads every day the New Zurich newspaperto answer questions in detail, although the Bavarian is otherwise shy of publicity. After photographers in Cannes, France, caught him wearing a straw hat while hanging out with AfD co-leader Alice Weidel, who also wore a straw hat, there may have been a need for explanation on his part. In the conversation he allows deep insights into his political views and his private life.
Theo Müller calls Alice Weidel a “friend”
The engineer and entrepreneur Beate Ebert, his second wife, also takes part in the interview. Before the conversation turns to meeting Alice Weidel in Cannes, Theo Müller reveals details about his private life. He speaks enthusiastically about the weight loss injection from Novo Nordisk. For him, the example of the successful company “that offers something that people want” is not only an example of “how the market economy works”, he also tested the product himself: “I lost five kilos.” Theo Müller does not avoid questions that some other entrepreneurs would never answer in a conversation.
The man from Bavarian Swabia freely says that when it comes to his Swiss friends, he is a bit “lean”. It’s not the fault of the Swiss, he says self-critically. In return, Theo Müller maintains even more active contact with AfD co-leader Alice Weidel, whom he has known for four years: “She lives nearby and comes to visit often.” Finally, he admits: “Yes, Alice Weidel is a friend This confirms rumors after the two met in France that the dairy man and the AfD front woman could chat more often with each other about politics and economics.
How close is Theo Müller to the right wing?
How close is Theo Müller to the right-wing fringe party, since he says he has been a member of the CSU for 30 years and advises Markus Söder to “stay in Bavaria and ensure good politics there”? The milk mogul assures that he is not an AfD member, nor does he want to become one, and that he does not support the party by donating. The business man, however, admits that he “likes” to talk to Alice Weidel, especially about economic matters: “That’s my topic: How does a people get rich?” Like the AfD leader, Theo Müller struggles with German politics. His diagnosis from the tax-advantaged Swiss distance is harsh: “If I want to be angry, I say: Germany is the country of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels.” Socialism and environmentalism have taken over the state.
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It becomes clear how intensively he has dealt with political and economic contexts, primarily as a buttermilk, rice pudding and yoghurt expert. Theo Müller does not seem to fully fill the “almost paradise of Switzerland” and as a result he lectures about his German homeland, to which he is still very attached: “The drama started with Angela Merkel.” The entrepreneur resents the former CDU chancellor political unrest, the energy transition and thus the phase-out of nuclear power. He still accuses her today: “Mrs. Merkel has lost control over immigration.” It becomes clear what points of contact Theo Müller keeps finding with his “girlfriend” Alice Weidel. For him, the German state is watching how the law is being broken millions of times, after all, according to the Basic Law, no one who comes from an EU state or another safe third country is entitled to asylum.
Billionaire Theo Müller is outraged about migrants and the energy transition
The billionaire is outraged: “Yet migrants come into the country, cry ‘asylum’ and are allowed to stay.” He tries not to appear too stubborn: “The do-gooder spirit is in all of us, including me.” The entrepreneur limits himself from that the AfD is getting the humanistic curve, so to speak? In the end, Theo Müller remains true to his argument and emphasizes like a politician: “The Germans are a people of 84 million, they cannot end the world’s misery alone.”
Anyone who follows the dairy specialist’s explanations might get the idea that someone who came to work late is preparing to enter politics. After all, the staffing needs of some parties are immense. Theo Müller is realistic: “I wouldn’t have a chance.” Here his wife intervenes and says about her husband’s possible political career: “No, that wouldn’t be a good idea.” At least he still has the exchange with Alice Weidel. He will certainly tell her too: “Of course there are individuals in the AfD who talk stupid things, spread right-wing extremist slogans and, for example, want to deport Germans who were born somewhere else.” For Theo Müller, something like that “doesn’t work”. His reasoning is revealing: “I’m an immigrant myself.”