Germans began voting on Sunday in parliamentary elections triggered by the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition government last November. Opinion polls show the conservative CDU/CSU bloc leading, with its candidate Friedrich Merz poised to become the next chancellor.
Polling stations opened at 8 a.m. (0700 GMT) and will close at 6 p.m. (1700 GMT). Exit polls are expected immediately after polls close, though coalition talks could take weeks or months if no party wins an outright majority.
The snap election follows the breakdown of Scholz’s three-way coalition, led by his center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD). The CDU and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), are leading with around 30% support. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) ranks second with about 20%, but other parties have ruled out partnering with the AfD, making it unlikely to enter government.
Should Merz become chancellor, he could seek a coalition with the SPD, the Greens, or other parties.
President Steinmeier casts vote, urges turnout
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier voted in Berlin’s Zehlendorf district, calling on citizens to “help decide the future of our country” by participating in the election.
Who can vote?
Around 59.2 million Germans are eligible to vote, according to the Statistical Office. However, nearly 10 million residents, roughly 14% of the adult population, cannot vote due to a lack of German citizenship.
Key election issues
Voters are concerned about immigration, economic performance, and the future of Germany’s support for Ukraine. The election is seen as a key test of the country’s political direction amid these challenges.
Voters will elect 630 members to the Bundestag, Germany’s lower house of parliament. The outcome will determine the next governing coalition in Europe’s largest economy.
