Germany’s Finance Minister, Christian Lindner, has issued a stark warning about the catastrophic impact on Germany’s economy if it were to follow the proposed “Dexit” route suggested by the far-right Alternative for Germany party. In an interview with Bloomberg TV in London, Lindner emphasized the “utmost importance” of the EU single market for Germany and deemed a potential “Dexit” as the worst-case scenario for the export-dependent nation.
Lindner stated, “It would ruin our economy,” underlining the need to resist changing the entire system based on disagreements with government policies. The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, led by Alice Weidel, has advocated for a German version of Brexit and suggested a referendum to decide the matter, considering Brexit as a “model for Germany.”
Political and business figures have consistently warned against the economic perils associated with AfD’s vision. The anti-immigrant party has gained traction in recent months, becoming the second-largest in opinion polls. Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition has seen a decline in support, putting Lindner’s Free Democrats at risk of missing the parliamentary threshold.
Acknowledging Germany’s competitiveness challenges, Lindner expressed optimism about the economic outlook, provided the government enhances the business framework. Germany, the only G7 economy to contract in the past year, faces predictions of another contraction in 2024 by leading economists, including those at Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank. The government’s council of economic advisers projects minimal potential growth at 0.4% in the coming years.