Germany's economy is facing criticism and uncertainty, with some questioning whether the country's business model is broken. The current administration has been criticized for its handling of economic policy, leading to a loss of 300,000 industrial jobs over three years. This has opened up opportunities for opposition leaders like Friedrich Merz, who promises to put in place policies to reduce red tape, cut taxes on companies, and improve Germany's competitiveness.

However, others argue that the country is still in a better position than it was in the early 2000s, with strong labor markets and sound public finances. Some also highlight Germany's strengths in new sectors related to the green transition, such as climate technologies and industrial automation.

Source: https://www.ft.com/content/6c345cf9-8493-4429-baa4-2128abdd0337