Andrew Kenningham

“The significance of the elections is that it shows there is not enough popular support for the kind of growth-oriented reforms that Merz wants to implement and that it points to further political deadlock and (probably) ineffectual government in future.”

Andrew Kenningham · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-21

Kenningham assessed that the election results reveal insufficient popular support for Merz's growth-oriented reforms and signal future political deadlock.

“It does not change the fact that Germany faces massive structural challenges due to high energy prices, an over-regulated expensive labour market, heavy exposure to the 'China shock' and demographic decline, and is not well placed to benefit from technological change including AI,”

Andrew Kenningham · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-21

Kenningham said by email that Germany's improved growth prospects are due to temporary factors and do not alter the country's deep structural challenges.