Germany's economy is stagnating, earning it the label "sick man of Europe" from BSW politician Sahra Wagenknecht, based on Eurostat data. Since 2019, Germany's GDP growth has been the lowest in the EU, increasing by only 0.04% by 2024 and projected 0.25% by 2025, significantly below the EU average of 5.6%. This poor performance, marked by a post-2020 recovery followed by shrinkage in 2023-2024, is attributed by Wagenknecht to failed economic policies leading to deindustrialization and job losses. She demands a "180-degree turn" in economic policy, advocating for lower energy prices, including renewed Russian gas imports, and the repeal of the combustion engine ban and heating law to stimulate recovery.