German defence procurement faces criticism as political pressures mount in Berlin
Economist Moritz Schularick has criticised Germany's defence spending strategy, as polls show the AfD widening its lead amid growing domestic political challenges.
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius is confronting renewed scrutiny regarding military spending priorities. Moritz Schularick, president of the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW), argued that allocated defence funding through 2030 excessively targets legacy equipment, including tanks and frigates, rather than modern warfare systems.
Simultaneously, broader domestic challenges are testing the federal government. A recent Deutschlandtrend poll indicated that the Alternative for Germany (AfD) has widened its lead over the opposition conservative CDU/CSU alliance, alongside growing voter receptivity toward ad hoc legislative collaboration. Concurrently, the governing Social Democrats (SPD) are managing internal party discontent, while regional authorities address organized crime in Berlin and agricultural difficulties stemming from drought conditions.
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
Earlier coverage
- Oct 16, 2026, 04:00 AM UTCBerlin parliament shrinks after vote transmission error shifts mandate to AfD
- Oct 14, 2026, 11:00 PM UTCBerlin parliament shrinks after vote transmission error shifts seat to AfD
- Oct 14, 2026, 11:00 AM UTCBerlin recount shifts state seat to AfD following transmission error
- Oct 14, 2026, 05:00 AM UTCBerlin election recount shifts mandate to AfD amid changing voter trends
- Oct 13, 2026, 05:00 AM UTCBerlin election recount shifts seat to AfD and reduces parliament size
- Oct 12, 2026, 05:00 AM UTCBerlin parliament shrinks after election counting error reassigns seat
- Oct 11, 2026, 11:00 PM UTCBerlin election result adjusted after seat recount and demographic study
- Oct 11, 2026, 05:00 PM UTCBerlin parliament shrinks after vote correction as election trends emerge
- Oct 11, 2026, 11:00 AM UTCRecount and voter demographic insights follow Berlin state election
- Oct 10, 2026, 11:00 PM UTCBerlin election analyses highlight youth trends and seat recalculation