Screenshot of a video of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz saying Germany “is no longer productive enough” that went viral after his China trip during a speech on February 27, 2026.

After German Chancellor Friedrich Merz wrapped up his visit to China on Thursday, video of Merz saying in a speech on Friday that Germany "is no longer productive enough" while mentioning China's development model, has sparked heated discussions among netizens online on Saturday.

In the video went on viral posted by a user on X on Saturday, Merz said that: "We are simply no longer productive enough. Each individual may say, 'I already do quite a lot.' And that may be true. But when you come from China, ladies and gentlemen, you see things more clearly. With work-life balance and a four-day week, long-term prosperity in our country cannot be maintained. We will simply have to do a bit more."

Merz made the remarks when he addresses supporters of his conservative Christian Democratic Union at a rally in Volkmarsen ahead of local elections in the state of Hesse, according to a video posted by DRM News on Friday.

This is not the first time Merz has called on Germans to work more. Germans don't work enough hours and take too many sick days, hampering economic growth, Merz has argued in recent weeks, POLITICO reported on February 12. According to POLITICO, Merz's plea for people to work harder comes as he struggles to revive Germany's long-stagnant economy and pushes market-oriented policies to boost competitiveness.

Under the video posted on X, netizens have engaged in discussions about the success of China's development and the problems they have witnessed in their own countries.

"German prime minister comes back after China trip and freaks out telling European to work more! In my humble opinion it's not about the number of hours but it's about regulations + cost. Truth is Chinese have more or less the same holidays as Europeans so it's not about hours..." an X user commented.

"Mr. Merz is right that Germany needs to boost efficiency, but it's one-sided to blame the country's decline on people not working hard enough. China's high efficiency and achievements are the result of joint efforts by both the government and the people. In this process, the government's sound policies and long-term planning have played a decisive role," an X user commented. 

"Actually, Merz but he is right. The industrial revolution was also the 'industrious revolution.' Number of hours worked increased by about a third. If Europe wants to compete, it needs to work more," one wrote. 

The heated discussions among netizens reflect the complex psychology of European society amid challenges, Wang Hanyi, a research fellow at the China-UK Center for Cultural Exchange at Shanghai International Studies University, told the Global Times on Saturday.

Merz's mention of China aims to criticize Germany's excessive advocacy for the 'four-day workweek,' with the core intention of promoting an awareness of internal reform, Wang explained.

The European public, especially the business community and young people, have recognized China's advantages in infrastructure and innovation speed, understanding that cooperation with China is necessary in areas such as climate change and digital transformation. This is a pragmatic, future-oriented choice driven by interests, the expert noted.

"In essence, this heated debate reflects Europe's confusion and self-adjustment under the pressure: they hope to alleviate their anxiety through pragmatic cooperation with China," Wang said.

Global Times