Germany’s southwestern state of Baden-Württemberg beats Sweden on population and the UK on gross domestic product (GDP) per capita. Özdemir’s election slogan was “economy, economy, economy”, portraying his state’s fate as a precursor to the wider German picture. CDU frontman Hagel meanwhile has promised drastic reforms to stop the region around Stuttgart becoming “the Detroit of Europe”. Local companies contribute 16 per cent of German total exports, but yet years of flat growth have seen the state economy shrink faster than elsewhere. Özdemir, Germany’s last federal agriculture minister, is far more popular: 47 per cent – would choose him as minister president if it were a direct election.

Source: The Irish Times March 07, 2026 18:02 UTC