Germany is becoming a 'museum of prosperity', business leader warns, as longest strikes in history begin

Rainer Dulger expressed concern that Germany risks ceasing to be considered the “engine of the EU”. Photo: THOMAS LOHNES/GETTY IMAGES

Germany risks becoming a “museum of prosperity”, a business leader has warned, as train drivers embarked on their longest strike ever amid tensions over the country's finances.

Rainer Dulger, president of the Confederation of German Employers' Associations, said businesses had lost confidence in Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition, which he accused of “a failure on all fronts.”

“We must be careful not to We will transform ourselves from the engine of the EU into a museum of prosperity,” he said.

“Our neighbors look at us with concern. It pains me to see how far Germany has sunk over the past two years,” added Mr. Dalger.

Rail Passengers Germany faces six more days of turmoil. Photo: CHRISTIAN BOCSI/BLOOMBERG

His comments on Wednesday were the latest sign of rising popularity. Frustration with Mr Scholz's government over its management of the economy comes as German train drivers go on a six-day strike over wages and working conditions.

The strike marks the longest strike in the history of the national railway.< /p

It began at 2am on Wednesday for passenger trains and will begin on Thursday evening for freight trains amid warnings that the latest action will worsen turmoil on trade routes already hit hard by the Red Sea shipping crisis.

ON , the German railway workers' union, is trying to push for a 550-euro (£470)-a-month pay rise, shorter working hours and inflation-adjusted compensation.

Deutsche Bahn responded by accusing the union of “holding the country hostage.”

The AfD is aiming to exploit the tensions to make gains in elections later this year. Photo: CHRISTIAN BOCSI/BLOOMBERG

The strike comes after thousands of farmers blocked town centers and highways across Germany earlier this month to protest proposals to phase out diesel subsidies for agriculture.

Scholz's government was also hit by the December budget crisis, during which a shock court ruling barred ministers from spending pandemic-era funds on future projects, leaving a €17 billion hole for 2024.

< p>A last-minute deal in his three-way coalition with the Greens and FDP ensured

Continuous reports of bitter infighting within the government and the ongoing migrant crisis are also pushing many German voters into the arms of the far-right AfD, which is set to achieve significant gains in local and European elections later this year.