Arbeitsrecht: Der Ruf nach Reformen / Koalition: Viel Streit und eine Pizza

The briefing opens with a focus on Federal Economics Minister Katharina Reiche, who has identified German labor law — particularly dismissal protection (Kündigungsschutz) — as a significant brake on economic growth, alongside rising energy prices, bureaucracy, and high taxes. A Handelsblatt analysis examines whether German labor law is an underestimated innovation obstacle, concluding that greater governmental attention to reform would be worthwhile. Proposed reforms include weakening dismissal protections for employees earning more than 6,000 euros gross per month. Notably, even DGB chairwoman Jasmin Fahimi expressed openness to restructuring the system, pointing to Denmark and Sweden as models. The stated goal of reform is not to push workers into unemployment, but to enable greater productivity through faster job mobility.

On the coalition front, the CDU/CSU and SPD government faces a long list of disputes that is slowing down any reform agenda. Issues such as pension as basic security, ending spousal co-insurance in health plans, and subsidy cuts for budget consolidation are all contested. A recent meeting at Villa Borsig illustrated the poor state of coalition relations — the atmosphere was tense, results minimal, Chancellor and Vice Chancellor reportedly shouted at each other, and CSU leader Markus Söder notably ordered a pizza. The briefing notes that the SPD should know from its Ampel coalition experience that excessive public infighting damages governing partnerships, though the fear of another coalition collapse may yet force compromise.

Briefly touching on Russia, the briefing notes that despite avoiding democratic accountability pressures, Putin faces a darkening economic picture: GDP shrank 1.8% in the first two months of the year, the central bank's business climate index hit its lowest point since October 2022, and many companies have imposed hiring freezes. Rising oil prices offer some relief.

On the corporate side, Siemens Energy reported a strong quarter, raising its annual forecast again, with order intake exceeding analyst expectations and its stock rising over 170% in the past twelve months to €183 — a dramatic recovery from lows of around €7 in autumn 2023. SAP also posted solid Q1 results, with cloud revenues up 27% year-on-year to €5.96 billion and total revenue up 12% to €9.56 billion, beating expectations. However, SAP's stock has fallen more than 40% over the past twelve months, and the company has been overtaken by Siemens as the most valuable DAX-listed company.