Article

Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticized Germany's energy policies and economic challenges, attributing the country's two-year recession to high labor costs and rising energy prices following the phase-out of nuclear power and reduced reliance on Russian oil and gas. He described the shutdown of nuclear reactors as a "serious strategic mistake," highlighted a projected €47 billion in welfare spending for 2024, and emphasized the need for increased military spending amid threats from Russia, with plans for a €377 billion rearmament program.