We must destroy the economy in order to save the economy

It’s the economic science, stupid.

German union boss urges Berlin to scrap borrowing cap to safeguard economy – IG Metall chair Christiane Benner addresses thousands of VW workers striking over planned closure of several plants.

The head of Germany’s most powerful trade union has called on Berlin to drop its cap on new borrowing to safeguard the future of Europe’s largest economy.

IG Metall chair Christiane Benner said the country should follow the example of the US and China, which are heavily supporting their domestic industries, meaning the borrowing limit had to “stop — immediately, not after the elections”.

Unexpected?

Not if you live in Germany.

It’s the cost of enertgy, stupid.

German industrial output unexpectedly falls in October – German industrial production unexpectedly fell in October, owing mainly to declines in energy production and in the automotive industry, the federal statistics office said on Friday.

Production was down by 1.0% in October from the previous month, the office said.

Scholz hits the campaign trail in Kyiv

Soon to be fired as chancellor in the German Bundestag in order to run for chancellor and be fired by German voters a second time in the upcoming German election, Olaf Scholz is now doing the Staatsmann (statesman) number in Ukraine.

The visit comes weeks before the German leader is set to ask his parliament for a vote of no confidence, which he is widely expected to lose.

Germany’s Olaf Scholz arrived in Ukraine on Monday for his second trip to the region during his tenure as chancellor.

His visit comes both at a time of escalated Russian attacks on Ukraine and as his government faces a political crisis at home that looks likely to remove him from power during elections in February next year.

Tis the season to “reflect growing diversity”

Berlin’s Christmas markets have been reflecting this for years.

Berlin’s traditional Christmas markets reflect city’s growing diversity – The smells of mulled wine, roasted almonds and hot bratwurst are wafting through the air across the German capital again, as the city’s more than 100 Christmas markets are opening their doors this week. But the annual tradition that Germans have cherished since the Middle Ages — and successfully exported to much of the Western world — has become a pretty diverse affair, at least in Berlin.

Well, if there was ever any doubt…

You must NEVER relax the debt brake, Germany.

Relax Germany’s debt brake, says Angela Merkel – Former chancellor’s memoirs back reform of borrowing cap that she introduced into constitution.

Former chancellor Angela Merkel has called for Germany to relax its “debt brake”, in a sign of the growing political pressure to overhaul a borrowing cap that many economists say is too inflexible. 

Merkel, who served as chancellor between 2005 and 2021 and introduced the debt brake into Germany’s constitution, made the proposal for change in her autobiography Freedom: Memories 1954-2021.

Maybe this will help me keep my job…

I know. I’ll call Vladimir Putin and ask him to stop the war and pull out of Ukraine.

That’s never been tried before.

Zelensky accuses German chancellor of opening ‘Pandora’s box’ with Putin…

Facing a snap election on Feb. 23, Scholz’s Social Democrats are coming under pressure from Russia-friendly populist parties on both sides of the political spectrum that argue the government has not deployed enough diplomacy to end the war, according to Reuters.

Don’t choose between security and prosperity…

Because you won’t get either.

Scholz, fighting for survival, says Germans should not choose between security and prosperity – Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Wednesday appealed to parties to pass measures such as raising child benefits and lifting tax thresholds before a February snap election, stressing that Germans did not need to choose between security and prosperity.

Scholz was addressing parliament in political leaders’ first public head-to-head since the collapse of the chancellor’s ruling coalition last week forced the country into a snap election that will likely take place in February.

We don’t have enough paper…

For the ballots, you know?

So we can’t have that vote of confidence and early election you voters want. Even though our government doesn’t have a majority anymore and is more non-functioning than ever. Sorry, fellow citizens. It’s out of our hands.

Geez. These German SPD guys would make good Democrats.

Germany: Paper questions punctuate election date debate – As lawmakers jostle over the timing of a vote of confidence after Germany’s coalition collapse, preparations are already being made for a snap election. Officials have warned of logistical issues with ballot printing.

German of the day: Nostalgie

That means nostalgia.

You know, the sentimental yearning for the happiness of a former place or time? Way back when? In the past?

Germany’s Volkswagen crisis: an ode to nostalgia – Germany’s car manufacturer and long-time economic powerhouse Volkswagen has shaped the lives and memories of generations of Germans. It’s current crisis gives pause to reflect on its importance in Germany’s history.