German defence minister faces renewed criticism over military procurement
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius faces criticism from IfW economist Moritz Schularick over procurement priorities as new polling shows the AfD widening its lead.
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius is confronting renewed scrutiny over the federal government's defence procurement strategy. Moritz Schularick, president of the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW), warned that financial resources allocated through 2030 remain disproportionately committed to traditional hardware, such as tanks and frigates, rather than next-generation combat systems.
The procurement debate unfolds amid shifting domestic political dynamics. According to the latest Deutschlandtrend survey, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) has widened its lead over the conservative CDU/CSU alliance, with rising public openness toward case-by-case parliamentary cooperation with the party. Meanwhile, internal tensions continue within the governing Social Democrats amid broader domestic policy challenges.
Sources: Der Spiegel, Die Zeit, DW, FAZ, Tagesschau
Sources
- DW — Deutschlandtrend: AfD vergrößert Vorsprung vor der Union
- Die Zeit — Verteidigung: Führender IfW-Ökonom kritisiert deutsche Rüstung
- FAZ — Deutschland-Liveblog: IfW-Präsident wirft Pistorius falsche Investitionen vor
- Tagesschau — IfW-Präsident wirft Pistorius falsche Investitionen in Bundeswehr vor
- Der Spiegel — News: Frust in der SPD, Bandengewalt in Berlin, Futtermangel in der Landwirtschaft
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