The comparison doesn’t work. In the US it is common practice that a newspaper gives a recommendation.
Also the US has a two party system. Compare this to Germany’s multi party system. If you are undecided between to options a recommendation might help. If you are undecided whether you should vote the Greens or SPD a newspaper recommending CDU doesn’t help you at all.
While it is not illegal for a newspaper to give a recommendation in Germany, it would be a scandal indeed. But the only reason for this would be that they didn’t do it before. People are just complaining about changes like in this case as well
Found the market liberal.
You ban stuff not because it is bad and you want something better. You ban stuff that is so bad that is actually harmful.