London CNN —Germany’s finance minister has shrugged off suggestions his country has once again become the “sick man” of Europe. Long the engine of growth in Europe, Germany’s economy shrank last year by 0.3%, likely the weakest performance among the region’s big countries. “I know what some of you are thinking: Germany probably is a sick man. Germany is not a sick man… Germany is a tired man after a short night,” Christian Lindner said at the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The country became known as the “sick man of Europe” in the late 1990s as its economy faltered and unemployment soared.

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Persons: It’s, ”, “, ” Christian Lindner, ” Lindner, ” Daniel Kral Organizations: London CNN —, Economic, Oxford Economics, Germany’s Federal, Office Locations: Europe, Germany, Davos, Switzerland, Germany’s, Ukraine, Moscow, Berlin, Russia, Red