Here compact current news summaries from Germany ((calendar week45))
Here compact current news summaries from Germany ((calendar week45))
News from Germany
MFRadio – Germany News
Germany looks back on an eventful week – marked by economic uncertainty, energy policy reforms and new climate targets. Here is an overview of the most important developments, editorially checked and with original sources.
1. Economy stagnates in the third quarter
The German economy continues to tread water. According to the Federal Statistical Office, gross domestic product remained unchanged in the third quarter of 2025 after shrinking slightly before.
Analysts at Reuters and Modern Diplomacy see the reasons in weak export demand, high inflation and reluctance to invest.
Without economic stimulus, Germany threatens to slide into a technical recession.
Analysts at Reuters and Modern Diplomacy see the reasons in weak export demand, high inflation and reluctance to invest.
Without economic stimulus, Germany threatens to slide into a technical recession.
2. Heating costs have tripled since the outbreak of the war
According to calculations by Euronews, households in Germany now pay three times as much for heating gas as before the start of the Ukraine war.
For a 70-square-meter apartment, the 2025 annual bill is around 1,180 euros – an increase of 15 percent compared to the previous year.
Social associations warn of growing energy poverty, especially among pensioners and low-income earners.
For a 70-square-meter apartment, the 2025 annual bill is around 1,180 euros – an increase of 15 percent compared to the previous year.
Social associations warn of growing energy poverty, especially among pensioners and low-income earners.
3. Industrial electricity price to come at the beginning of 2026
The German government wants to introduce a capped electricity price for energy-intensive companies from January 1, 2026.
As Clean Energy Wire reports, the regulation is intended to ensure the competitiveness of German industry.
However, it is subject to approval by the EU Commission, which will examine possible distortions of competition.
As Clean Energy Wire reports, the regulation is intended to ensure the competitiveness of German industry.
However, it is subject to approval by the EU Commission, which will examine possible distortions of competition.
4. Germany's path to climate neutrality is faltering
According to a report in the Guardian, Germany continues to strive to be climate-neutral by 2045 – five years earlier than many of its neighbours.
While the share of renewable energies in the electricity sector has risen to over 59 percent, the transport, buildings and agriculture sectors are lagging significantly behind.
Experts are therefore calling for a new climate protection law with binding interim targets.
While the share of renewable energies in the electricity sector has risen to over 59 percent, the transport, buildings and agriculture sectors are lagging significantly behind.
Experts are therefore calling for a new climate protection law with binding interim targets.
5. New wave of investment strengthens confidence in the location
According to the Associated Press, German and international companies have announced investments of over 630 billion euros – mainly in technology, digitization and infrastructure.
Economists see this as a sign of confidence that Germany will remain attractive as an industrial location in the long term despite the current stagnation.
Economists see this as a sign of confidence that Germany will remain attractive as an industrial location in the long term despite the current stagnation.
6. Federal budget 2025 adopted
The Bundestag passed a new budget of around 591 billion euros.
As Reuters reports, the budget includes increased spending on defense, digitization and energy efficiency.
The government speaks of a "paradigm shift" to make the country more resilient to global crises.
As Reuters reports, the budget includes increased spending on defense, digitization and energy efficiency.
The government speaks of a "paradigm shift" to make the country more resilient to global crises.
7. New grand coalition formed
After long negotiations, the CDU/CSU and SPD agreed on a new grand coalition.
As AP News reports, the partners want to focus on economic growth, defense and modernization.
Observers see this as an attempt to regain political stability after months of uncertainty.
As AP News reports, the partners want to focus on economic growth, defense and modernization.
Observers see this as an attempt to regain political stability after months of uncertainty.
8. Germany remains in an economic weak phase
Despite the investment announcements, Hellenic Shipping News forecasts growth of only 0.2 percent for 2025.
This means that economic output remains below the pre-crisis level of 2019, and
industry representatives are calling for tax relief to stabilize the location.
This means that economic output remains below the pre-crisis level of 2019, and
industry representatives are calling for tax relief to stabilize the location.
9. Energy prices remain critical for consumers
While large industrial companies are hoping for relief, private households remain affected by high energy prices.
According to Clean Energy Wire, many small businesses and self-employed people are also caught between cost pressure and climate protection requirements.
Politically, there is increasing discussion about targeted relief for SMEs.
According to Clean Energy Wire, many small businesses and self-employed people are also caught between cost pressure and climate protection requirements.
Politically, there is increasing discussion about targeted relief for SMEs.
10. Climate balance: Electricity strong, traffic weak
Another report by the Guardian shows that Germany's electricity sector is on the right track, but traffic and buildings are slowing down the overall balance.
If there is no change of direction, the 2045 climate target threatens to fail.
Environmentalists are calling for faster approvals for solar and wind power projects. 11. Germany continues to controversy: firewall or democratic border?
If there is no change of direction, the 2045 climate target threatens to fail.
Environmentalists are calling for faster approvals for solar and wind power projects. 11. Germany continues to controversy: firewall or democratic border?
Germany is in the midst of a heated debate about the state of its democracy. The buzzword "firewall" divides the political landscape like no other. While the German government and large parts of the media speak of a necessary protective wall against extremism, more and more citizens see it as a threat to freedom of expression and open democratic discourse.
Political demarcation or democratic division?
The term "firewall" describes the declared refusal of the established parties to cooperate with certain political forces – especially from the right-wing spectrum. Originally, this was intended to protect the free democratic basic order. But the line is becoming increasingly blurred: Conservative and opposition voices are also being targeted by a political exclusion that no longer distinguishes between radical and critical of the government.
According to recent surveys by INSA, Forsa and Civey, more than 30 percent of Germans see this development as a threat to democracy. Critics warn that if political opponents are no longer refuted in terms of content, but morally excluded, the system loses its pluralistic substance.
International perception
The German culture of debate is also causing international discussions. In the USA and several European countries, the concept of the "firewall" is viewed with skepticism.
Conservative US think tanks such as the Cato Institute or the Heritage Foundation Research Center speak openly of an "erosion of freedom of discussion in Germany". From the American point
of view, the exclusion of entire population groups from political participation is "a sign of institutional weakness, not strength."
In France, the Netherlands and Eastern Europe, the development is viewed similarly critically. Germany's political culture there is increasingly seen as moralizing and inflexible – an attitude that could undermine trust in democratic processes in the long term.
Conservative US think tanks such as the Cato Institute or the Heritage Foundation Research Center speak openly of an "erosion of freedom of discussion in Germany". From the American point
of view, the exclusion of entire population groups from political participation is "a sign of institutional weakness, not strength."
In France, the Netherlands and Eastern Europe, the development is viewed similarly critically. Germany's political culture there is increasingly seen as moralizing and inflexible – an attitude that could undermine trust in democratic processes in the long term.
Merz - Government under pressure
Germany is currently governed by a coalition of four parties, which together do not represent an absolute majority of the votes. This fragile structure increases the pressure to secure political stability through demarcation. But it is precisely this strategy that deepens the social divide.
Many citizens perceive the political discourse as one-sided. Topics such as migration, energy policy or media freedom are increasingly seen as a mined terrain in which dissenting opinions are not perceived as a contribution, but as a threat.
Many citizens perceive the political discourse as one-sided. Topics such as migration, energy policy or media freedom are increasingly seen as a mined terrain in which dissenting opinions are not perceived as a contribution, but as a threat.
Between democracy and dogma
The current situation shows a dilemma: a democracy that seals itself off from any form of opposition loses its openness and critical self-correction.
Political dispute is part of the foundation of a pluralistic society – even if it is uncomfortable. A firewall that goes beyond the protection of the constitution itself becomes a danger to them.
Political dispute is part of the foundation of a pluralistic society – even if it is uncomfortable. A firewall that goes beyond the protection of the constitution itself becomes a danger to them.
How the USA looks at the German firewall
In American think tanks (including the Cato Institute, Heritage Foundation, Quincy Institute) this practice is openly criticized.
The tenor there is:
The tenor there is:
"In a democracy, excluding opposition instead of debating it is a sign of institutional weakness, not strength."
In other words
, while Washington is fundamentally in favor of stability in Europe, the German practice of political demarcation is seen more as an authoritarian reflex than as a democratic strength.
Conservative voices in the USA also emphasize:
, while Washington is fundamentally in favor of stability in Europe, the German practice of political demarcation is seen more as an authoritarian reflex than as a democratic strength.
Conservative voices in the USA also emphasize:
"You don't fight extremism by silencing half the country."
What US Senator JD. Vance specifically addressed in 2024 at the Munich Security Conference.
- In his speech, Vance criticized that European governments used terms such as "disinformation" and "misinformation" to exclude opinions that deviated from the political majority:
"Across Europe, free speech, I fear, is in retreat."
- He explicitly referred to Germany and explained that the practice of political isolation ("firewall") against certain parties is an expression of fear of one's own electorate:
"If you're running in fear of your own voters, there is nothing America can do for you."
- He accused that freedom of expression in parts of Europe is restricted by criminal proceedings or state interference in freedom of speech — as examples, he cited events in Germany and Great Britain, among others.
Author: MFRadio - Redaktion
Sources: Excerpts and data from INSA, Forsa and Civey surveys 2024 – 2025; Reports from Cato Institute, Heritage Foundation, Reuters, AP News, and Cicero magazine.
Various reports, including Reuters, Euronews, Clean Energy Wire, The Guardian – all partly available in the linked original articles.
, https://www.euronews.com
, https://www.cleanenergywire.org
, https://www.theguardian.com
, https://apnews.com
, https://moderndiplomacy.eu
, https://hellenicshippingnews.com
, https://www.reuters.com
, en.wikipedia.org+3
, ft.com+3
, theguardian.com+3
, AP News+1
, en.wikipedia.org+1
, https://www.euronews.com
, https://www.cleanenergywire.org
, https://www.theguardian.com
, https://apnews.com
, https://moderndiplomacy.eu
, https://hellenicshippingnews.com
, https://www.reuters.com
, en.wikipedia.org+3
, ft.com+3
, theguardian.com+3
, AP News+1
, en.wikipedia.org+1
