On Sunday, February 23, Germany will hold early parliamentary elections, with 59.2 million eligible voters set to elect 630 members of the new Bundestag and, indirectly, the next chancellor.
In addition to domestic voters, over three million German citizens abroad also have the right to vote, though logistical challenges may complicate their participation due to the short election timeline.
Five candidates are vying for the chancellorship, representing Germany’s major political parties: the Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU), the Social Democrats (SPD), the Greens, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), and the left-wing populist Alliance Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW).
A total of 41 parties were approved for participation, but only 29 will appear on the ballot, with some running in select federal states. The electoral threshold remains at 5%.
Key Changes and Demographic Shifts
This election marks significant changes in Germany’s electoral system. The Bundestag, previously the largest elected lower house in the world with 736 seats, has been reduced to 630 under a new law that modifies the balance between majoritarian and proportional representation.
The number of candidates has also dropped to 4,506, compared to 6,211 in the 2021 election, with women making up just under a third of the candidates.
Germany’s electorate continues to age, with over 40% of voters now older than 60 and a quarter over 70. In contrast, voters under 30 make up only 13.3% of the electorate. Around 2.3 million young Germans will be casting their ballots for the first time.
Election security and oversight will be managed by 650,000 volunteers tasked with maintaining order and ensuring proper vote counting.
Political Landscape and Polling Trends
These elections were originally scheduled for autumn but were moved up following the collapse of the governing coalition between the SPD, the Greens, and the liberal FDP.
Recent polls indicate that the opposition Christian Democrats (CDU), led by Friedrich Merz, are leading with around 30% support, making them the favorites to form the next government.
