Mr DAX Takes On Germany's Green Pest Economic Policy

Investors, particularly long-term ones such as insurance companies and pension funds, are bewildered by Germany's current trajectory.“They shake their heads and ask, 'Where have the German virtues gone? We don't know how to read you anymore.'”

These investors, according to Weimer, now approach Germany with a sense of fatalism.“If you continue this way, we will avoid you even more,” they warn. The crux of their frustration lies in what they perceive as irrational policies that have turned Germany into a“junk shop,” with investments driven by opportunistic motives rather than strong fundamentals.“What you are doing is simply insane,” they tell Weimer.

The skepticism isn't limited to economic policy. Weimer reports that political observers from places like Singapore are openly questioning the competence of Germany's government.“They ask me, 'What kind of government do you have?'” Weimer said.

He elaborated on the perceived shift towards a“big government” mentality, where the state feels compelled to overprotect.“Economically, we are on the path to becoming a developing country,” he warned.

One significant point of contention is Germany's automotive industry. Weimer criticizes the stringent CO2 regulations that have, in his view, cornered car manufacturers.“If I buy a BMW 7 Series, I only get a six-cylinder hybrid in Germany, but in the USA, I get an eight-cylinder,” he pointed out, lamenting the pressure to downsize company cars as misguided.“We need big cars to drive growth,” he argued.

Weimer's critique extended beyond economic policies to Germany's handling of migration and defense. He condemned the country's migration policies as fundamentally flawed and not aligned with economic necessities. Effective migration in his view should focus on attracting skilled workers who contribute to the economy, not on supporting those who may become long-term welfare recipients.

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Additionally, he highlighted Germany's lag in defense and digitalization as critical areas of failure.

A call for change

Concluding his speech, Weimer invoked a sense of urgency and a need for radical change. The times of glossing over Germany's economic issues are over, he asserted, quoting the late Wolfgang Schäuble, a famous German politician (CDU) who died last year:“Isch over” (It's over).

Weimer's speech serves as a stark wake-up call. It's a revolt against what he sees as a pestilent green ideology infecting Germany's economic policies. As international observers watch closely, the question remains: Will Germany heed this call for change, or continue down its current path?

Diego Fassnacht, CFA, is an international economist and an investment advisor to individual clients and institutions. Prior to his work in finance, he served on the governing council (Deutschlandrat) of the youth organization (JU) of the main German opposition party, the CDU.

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