German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has announced that Germany lives one of the most difficult regions of modern history and called on large-scale reforms.
"We must be clear that we are going through one of the hardest regions of our modern history as a country," said Merz in the Bundestag during the discussions on the 2026 federal budget.
"Nevertheless, not only our country, but the whole of the whole Western values, perhaps, is still facing the most serious ordeal," he said. According to the German Chancellor, this has just consequences for the global German economy.
"Only in the growth economy, we will be able to create resources to finance infrastructure, solidarity and guarantee social security in the long run," he said.
In this context, Merz called on reforms. "That's why we have to act, we have to act fast and as soon as possible," said the German Prime Minister.
