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Published February 23, 2025last updated February 23, 2025Germans are voting in parliamentary elections brought forward by the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’ ruling coalition last November. The conservative CDU/CSU is in the lead in opinion polls. DW has the latest.
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The conservative CDU, the environmentalist Greens and the incumbent Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s center-left Social Democrats are some of the parties competing in the election [FILE: February 10, 2025]Image: Christoph Hardt/Panama Pictures/picture alliance Skip next section What you need to knowWhat you need to know Polls open at 8 a.m. (0700 UTC) and close at 6 p.m. The snap election is being held after the collapse of a three-way coalition led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) The conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Bavarian sister party the Christian Social Union (CSU) have been leading opinion polls, with around 30% support CDU candidate Friedrich Merz is likely to become the next German chancellor The far-right Alternative for Germany (AFD) has been the second most popular party, with around 20% of support in surveys ahead of the vote However, no other party has expressed in interest in working with the AfD, with the party expected to be left out of government If Merz become chancellor, he may choose to form a coalition with the SPD, and/or the environmentalist Greens, among other options Here are the latest developments on Germany’s parliamentary election on Sunday, February 23, 2025, along with the essential background and explainers.
Skip next section In pictures: Who are the top candidates?February 23, 2025
In pictures: Who are the top candidates?Rina Goldenberg
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Skip next section Welcome to DW’s rolling coverage of the 2025 German election February 23, 2025
Welcome to DW’s rolling coverage of the 2025 German election Wesley Dockery
Germany votes today in snap elections that are being held after the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’ three-way ruling coalition last November. DW will be tracking the latest developments and bringing you multimedia content and analysis on the vote.
Among the most pressing issues for voters are immigration, the state of the German economy, foreign policy and climate change, according to an ARD-Deutschlandtrend poll from January.
While the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU)/Christian Social Union (CSU) alliance under Friedrich Merz is ahead in the polls, it is unlikely to be able to govern alone.
Merz vowed to be a “strong voice” in Europe at the last CDU rally before the vote.
The polls put the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in second place. However no other party is open to working with them, meaning they will likely be left out of government.
The ruling Social Democrats (SPD) under current Chancellor Scholz have been polling in third place.
That makes them a likely coalition partner for the CDU. The environmentalist Greens are another option.
Depending on the results, and if the poll projections prove true, the CDU may have to govern with either one other party or two.
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