This Sunday, Germany celebrates its federal elections, which will determine the new configuration of the Bundestag, the German Parliament, and the next chancellor. It’s a decisive call, as the winning party must face the economic slump the country has been experiencing in recent years, as well as the rise of the ultra-right and a tumultuous international landscape.
Unlike other countries, Germany has a tradition of forming coalition governments, which is favored by its electoral system and the wide variety of parties that participate in elections. Since the founding of the German Federal Republic, four governments have been made up of “grand coalitions” between Christian Democrats and Social Democrats, the majority parties. The formation of any future executive will depend again on post-election negotiations, in which, except for a surprise, the Christian Social Union/Union (CDU/CSU) will be present, remaining a favorite in the surveys.
These are the four main candidates for the chancellorship:
Friedrich Merz (CDU/CSU)
Friedrich Merz, 69, is the candidate of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU/CSU) and the favorite to become the next German Chancellor. A lawyer by profession, Merz is a veteran in German politics and was elected leader of the CDU in 2022 after two previous attempts. Recently, he was at the center of controversy for accepting votes from the extreme right-wing party Alternative for Germany (AFD) to move forward with asylum plaintiffs, which earned him harsh criticism, even from historical figures of his party, such as Angela Merkel. Before the controversy, he reversed and assured at the beginning of February that he would not agree “under any circumstance” with AFD, thus maintaining the sanitary cordon.
His conservative speech is based on a hard-line policy against immigration, tax cuts, and social spending, and bets on economic deregulation. Merz’s stance has sparked debate, and his ability to form a coalition will depend on his capacity to negotiate with other parties.
Olaf Scholz (Social Democratic Party)
Olaf Scholz, 66, is the current German Chancellor and leader of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), although it will likely be weakened in these elections. His image has suffered significant wear due to constant confrontations within his coalition government, which led him to call early elections. According to the polls, he is in third position, behind AFD. Scholz is known for his “prudent” position regarding the war in Ukraine. Among his main proposals are an increase in pensions and salaries, regulation of rental prices, and rejection of interference from members of the Trump administration in internal matters. In migration matters, he defends the “European way” above populist policies.
Alice Weidel (AFD)
Alice Weidel, 46, is the alternative candidate for Germany (AFD). She is the first woman to lead the party in its 12-year history and has had the support of Elon Musk for these elections. Economist by profession, Weidel has focused her speech on the expulsion of immigrants and the elimination of gender studies. She has also promised to “demolish all windmills” and bet on nuclear energy, ensuring that her government would reactivate nuclear power plants in operation and prolong the useful life of coal thermal plants. AFD is polling as the second group in voting intention, according to surveys.
Robert Habeck (The Greens)
Robert Habeck, 55, is the candidate of the Greens and one of the most outstanding figures of the environmental party in Germany. Philosopher and writer by training, he began his political career in Schleswig-Holstein, where he was regional president of the party before making the jump to national politics. As current Vice Chancellor and Minister of Economy and Climate Protection, he has been a key piece in the country’s energy transition, betting on reducing dependence on Russian gas and promoting renewable energies. He defends an ambitious climate policy and greater investment in green infrastructure, although he has had to make concessions on energy issues due to the crisis. Additionally, he advocates for a sustainable economy and strengthening European cooperation in environmental matters and security.
