Uranium stocks have become some of the biggest gainers on global markets. After eleven consecutive weeks of rising prices, one thing is clear: nuclear power is on the verge of a worldwide renaissance. Meanwhile, Germany, having castrated itself energetically and economically, stands like a beaten dog on the sidelines.

A responsible, forward-looking German government—especially after the most recent election—should have prioritized one policy area above all: energy. Energy is the beating heart of any economy.

It determines the general direction a national economy takes. Cheap and reliable energy is the essential nutrient for a thriving industrial ecosystem. Strong industries extend their roots deep into the fine branches of economic life—like a robust root system that constantly nourishes new trees of prosperity.

But Germany’s newly elected Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, once stylized by the media as a “business expert,” made one thing clear right away: there will be no nuclear comeback on his watch. He also ruled out repealing rent controls, the minimum wage, the mandatory heat pump law, or CO₂ taxation. Merz is no reformer. He is a dyed-in-the-wool statist, a conservative technocrat running on autopilot—committed to continuing the failed policies of his predecessors.

Germany’s 'Kid Politicians' Pulled the Plug

In recent years, Germany has been governed by eco-socialist zealots and dogmatic “kid politicians” with alarming cognitive deficits. In their ideological fervor, they have literally unplugged the power grid that drives the economy. What still seems unthinkable in the publicly subsidized comfort zones of Germany's state-class has already become reality: tens of thousands of firms are closing, industries are offshoring, and hundreds of thousands are losing their jobs in high-value sectors.

Industrial electricity prices in Germany are sometimes four times higher than those in the U.S., France, or China. In such an environment, German manufacturers cannot compete and are forced to make hard choices—usually involving layoffs or relocation. The resulting economic fallout is devastating. This self-destructive crusade against the foundations of national prosperity may be a fascinating case study in mass psychology, but it is no way to run a modern economy.

It reflects the deep economic illiteracy of a spoiled heir generation—comfortable in the illusion that the inherited wealth of their grandparents will last forever while they moralize their way into decline. As Goethe’s Faust might put it: "Devour it all to the end—that’s the best last will."

Deindustrialization Accelerates

Germany’s deindustrialization is gaining speed. Since 2023, the country has been mired in its longest postwar recession, and the economy is expected to shrink further in 2025. Only the state—through fruitless loan programs—keeps up the illusion of economic stability. Particularly energy-intensive sectors like chemicals, steel, and automotive manufacturing are shifting production abroad and slashing jobs at home. In 2024 alone, Germany lost approximately 70,000 industrial jobs; another 100,000 are expected to vanish by the end of 2025 (source).

Investment is drying up. Uncertainty and exorbitant energy prices are making Germany an increasingly unattractive place to do business. Yet Merz continues his autopilot course—right toward an economic crash. A return to nuclear energy would be a first symbolic step, a signal to the world: Germany is back in the game.

Nuclear Power: Cornerstone of Civilization

Despite all the anti-nuclear hysteria in Germany, the facts remain: in 2022, nuclear power plants generated 2,800 terawatt hours of electricity globally—about 10 percent of the world’s total electricity supply. By 2050, that figure could more than double to 6,000 terawatt hours, feeding the planet’s much-needed hunger for energy. That hunger is not a threat; it is a symptom of civilizational vitality. Energy is the foundation on which societies build the complex architectures of modern life.

Over the next 25 years, up to 300 new reactors could be built, adding to the existing fleet of 420. Much of the expansion is centered in Asia: China alone plans to add 40 reactors within 15 years. India, South Korea, and even Japan—once traumatized by Fukushima—are reinvesting in nuclear. The U.S. and France are also planning modernizations and new builds. By 2050, the global fleet could grow to 700–750 reactors, keeping nuclear’s share of electricity generation relatively stable.

Germany’s Green Suicide Pact

While the global economy invests in advanced energy technologies like next-gen nuclear, and renewables are deployed based on market logic, Germany plays the role of the stubborn child—digging in its heels, refusing reality. The Iberian Peninsula blackout a few weeks ago should serve as a warning flare, not an oddity to be casually dismissed.

Merz’s energy policy proves two things: First, he is willing to sacrifice the core of Germany’s economy to preserve the illusion of a state-directed green transformation. Second, he fails to understand that serious economic shocks tend to trigger serious political ones. History shows that prolonged economic mismanagement often ends in social unrest and political instability. A proper liberal statesman would have consulted not just Ludwig von Mises, but the full history of European economic crises—before parroting the corporate statism he inhaled at BlackRock.

Merz has missed every opportunity to set a new course for Germany. And he did so with full conviction.

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Thomas Kolbe, born in 1978 in Neuss/ Germany, is a graduate economist. For over 25 years, he has worked as a journalist and media producer for clients from various industries and business associations. As a publicist, he focuses on economic processes and observes geopolitical events from the perspective of the capital markets. His publications follow a philosophy that focuses on the individual and their right to self-determination. Follow him on Twitter/X: https://x.com/ThomKolbe.