German defence strategy faces scrutiny as AfD expands polling lead
IfW President Moritz Schularick criticises German military spending priorities, while new polling shows the AfD widening its lead over the CDU/CSU.
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius faces sustained criticism from economic experts over his military procurement strategy. Moritz Schularick, president of the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW), warned that planned defence investments through 2030 disproportionately favour legacy military hardware, such as main battle tanks and naval frigates, at the expense of next-generation warfare systems.
Concurrently, shifting political dynamics and domestic challenges are putting pressure on the federal government. The latest Deutschlandtrend survey recorded an expanding lead for the Alternative for Germany (AfD) over the conservative CDU/CSU, accompanied by rising voter openness to issue-based cooperation with the party. Meanwhile, the Social Democratic Party faces internal discontent among members, federal authorities are confronting organised crime networks in Berlin, and farmers are grappling with severe feed shortages caused by ongoing 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
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