🚨 German Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged citizens to work more hours, targeting part-time 'lifestyle' choices to boost economic growth, address labor shortages, and secure pensions, while keeping exemptions for parents and caregivers.

😡 The call triggered strong backlash, with critics accusing Merz of prioritizing corporate profits over workers' rights and restricting personal flexibility, even sparking disagreement within his own CDU party.

🤝 This fits Merz's broader agenda of economic pragmatism, including a joint push with Italy's Giorgia Meloni for EU competitiveness reforms ahead of a February 12, 2026, summit.

💼 Supporters argue it tackles Germany's productivity challenges amid global competition, but alternatives like tax incentives and skilled immigration are proposed to avoid mandates.

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