Overview
- Hoeneß, in an interview published Saturday by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, said he is more optimistic than most and believes Germany could have a good year.
- He tied any upturn to the coalition governing “working together sensibly” and pressed the SPD’s left wing to move into the democratic center or risk fading like the FDP.
- Questioning disaster talk about industry, he pointed to BMW as holding up and noted Volkswagen still earns billions despite reports of roughly 50,000 planned job cuts.
- Calling for a tougher work ethic, he urged fewer three‑day‑week ambitions and proposed to the services union Verdi that employees add two unpaid hours each week.
- Outlets amplified his remarks as a counterpoint to reports of a severe downturn, and there were no immediate policy shifts or union responses reported.