An Essential Guide to Germany’s 2025 Bundestag Election You Should Know.

Germany is gearing up for a crucial parliamentary election on February 23, following the collapse of the coalition government which was led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz in December. The country’s major challenges are its struggling economy, migration, and the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. 

The significant issue in this election is the economy, which has been in decline. The ruling coalition, made up of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Greens, and the Free Democratic Party (FDP), fell apart due to disputes over the budget. Chancellor Scholz dismissed Finance Minister Christian Lindner of the FDP Party by accusing him of obstructive behavior & prioritizing party interests over national priorities.

Lindner, on the other hand was arguing that Scholz had tried to pressure him into breaching the constitutionally mandated debt brake, a fiscal discipline measure that limits spending. This dispute led to the FDP’s withdrawal from the coalition & a subsequent vote of confidence, which Scholz had lost. 

The key party leaders include current Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who faced criticism many times for his handling of the economy and his coalition's internal conflicts. He took office in December 2021, but his popularity has declined ever since.

Friedrich Merz, the CDU/CSU's candidate, represents himself as an experienced politician with a firm conservative viewpoint. Anyhow, Merz sparked controversy when he accepted support from the far-right AfD party, a move seen as a break with German political norms, although he has rejected the idea of forming a coalition with them. 

Recent polls suggest that the CDU/CSU alliance is currently in the lead with 29% of voter support, which is closely followed by the AfD at 21%. The SPD is behind with 16%, while the Greens have 12% backing. Germany’s electoral system is intricate, with each voter casting 2 votes: 1 for a constituency candidate & another for a political party. The 630 seats in the Bundestag are allocated according to the proportion of 2nd votes received by each party. 

The party with the most votes will propose a candidate for chancellor, who must secure a big majority in the Bundestag to be sworn in as the new leader. "Polling stations will open at 8 am (07:00 GMT) on February 23 and close at 6 pm (17:00 GMT). Exit polls are expected shortly after the polls close, with initial results anticipated to emerge around 30 minutes later. The final results will likely be determined overnight."

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