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Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that Germans must work harder to revitalize the economy, which is in a two-year recession due to high labor costs and increased energy prices from abandoning nuclear power and cutting Russian oil and gas. He emphasized the need for greater economic output and criticized previous governments for hastily shutting down nuclear reactors, calling it a 'serious strategic mistake.'

Merz noted that welfare spending reached €47 billion in 2024 and acknowledged a 'structural crisis' in the economy. He also prioritized military spending amid perceived threats from Russia, with plans for a €377 billion rearmament program extending beyond 2026.