Germany leads efforts to loosen EU debt and deficit caps as it gears up to deploy €1tn
Country’s small and medium-sized businesses are pivoting to defence amid European rearmament
The country’s economy and its biggest businesses are pulling in the same direction
Impact from Trump trade wars set to prolong longest economic slump in country’s postwar history
Push to increase defence production is offering a glimmer of hope for workers facing manufacturing job losses
Incoming chancellor Friedrich Merz has loosened deficit rules in a country deeply averse to public debt
Chancellor-in-waiting comments after Donald Trump announced 20% levies on all European exports
Breaking out of fiscal restraints is not by itself enough to recover the country’s economic mojo
The loosening of Germany’s ‘debt brake’ raises hope for faster growth
Constitutional reform passes last legislative hurdle days before outgoing parliament’s term expires
German group points to global trade tensions exacerbating hit to sales and profits
Caught between Russia and an increasingly adversarial US, Germany’s ties to Europe are being tested
Chancellor-in-waiting needs two-thirds majority in emergency session of outgoing Bundestag
Funding increased to €7bn last year but it is a far cry from the 2021 peak of more than €17bn
FT survey finds ‘large fiscal capacity’, but economists urge would-be chancellor Friedrich Merz to spend funds wisely
Even Germany’s frugal friends are undergoing policy and sentiment shifts
Chancellor-in-waiting Merz’s promise to do ‘whatever it takes’ pushes Bund yields sharply higher in anticipation of more issuance
Europe’s largest economy could return to pre-pandemic growth trend
Investors bet on big boost to growth after agreement to increase funding for military and infrastructure
Also in this newsletter: can European lawmakers convince the US to change its tone on digital taxes?
As the country goes to the polls, writers explore, in fiction and non-fiction, its identity and values — and where these suggest it is heading
Olaf Scholz mocked UK trains. FT analysis of 1.9bn data points shows they are more reliable than Germany’s network
Voters prepare to go to polls this weekend as political parties seek remedies for economic heartland’s woes
Embracing creative destruction would revive the country’s fortunes
Air defence radar maker Hensoldt offers to hire laid off engineers from Bosch and Continental as automotive job cuts rise
