German defence spending and domestic political pressures draw scrutiny

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius faces renewed criticism over military procurement priorities, with Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW) President Moritz Schularick warning that planned expenditures remain overly focused on legacy hardware, such as tanks and frigates, rather than modern weapon systems.

Meanwhile, broader political and domestic pressures continue to mount across Germany. The latest Deutschlandtrend survey indicates that the Alternative for Germany (AfD) has widened its lead over the conservative CDU/CSU alliance, alongside rising voter openness to selective legislative cooperation. Simultaneously, the Social Democratic Party is dealing with internal member frustration, authorities in Berlin are confronting organized crime networks, and the agricultural sector continues to navigate severe feed shortages driven by ongoing dry weather.

Sources: Der Spiegel, Die Zeit, DW, FAZ, Tagesschau