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Federal Minister Altmaier (left), Scholz: "Internationally fair framework conditions"
Photo: Maja Hitij / Getty Images
One of the traditional duties of the Federal Minister of Economics is to submit the annual economic report towards the end of January each year.
The predecessor of incumbent Peter Altmaier (CDU) knew how to celebrate the event as a high mass of determined government action, above all Karl Schiller (SPD), the founder of the tradition.
But Otto Graf Lambsdorff and Hans Friderichs (both FDP) also showed talent for the big appearance.
They used the opportunity to present campaigns and agendas for the new year effectively.
In the recent past, however, the work, which is usually more than a hundred pages long, has degenerated into a hodgepodge for governmental self-praise with a high density of platitudes.
Altmaier's new attempt for 2021 does not promise any improvement, on the contrary, it sets a new low in the sad tradition.
The working title of the elaborate already reveals the restrained vigor with which his officials went to work: "Overcoming the corona crisis, supporting economic recovery, strengthening structures".
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