As Germany’s snap general election approaches, the country is bracing itself for a fiercely contested battle between right-wing opposition parties and incumbent Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s center-left Social Democratic Party.
As Germany approaches its snap general election on Sunday, political parties are in a fierce battle for votes amidst a backdrop of global and domestic crises. With just two days to go before voting day, the country is bracing itself for another multi-party coalition.
Germany uses a federal parliamentary system, with the Bundestag serving as the national legislature.
Citizens vote for their preferred party, and seats are allocated proportionally to each party's share of the vote.
The party or coalition with a majority in the Bundestag selects the Chancellor, who serves as head of government.
Germany has a strong tradition of coalitions, with no single party having ever held an absolute majority since 1957.
According to recent polls, right-wing opposition parties continue to lead the pack, with the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), hovering around 30% support. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is trailing behind them with around 20%. Meanwhile, incumbent Chancellor Olaf Scholz‘s center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) is polling in third place with 15%, while their coalition partners, the Green Party, are coming in fourth with just over 13%.
The country is facing a multitude of challenges, from economic stagnation to migration policies and crime. The war in Ukraine has also become a major talking point, with some parties advocating for a more hawkish approach while others are calling for diplomacy.
In a worrying development, Germany‘s Interior Ministry has warned of a Russian disinformation operation seeking to influence voters and help the far-right AfD. The ministry has reason to suspect that the Kremlin-linked ‘Storm-1516‘ network is behind some online campaigns.
Russian disinformation refers to the spread of false or misleading information by Russia and its agents.
This can include 'propaganda,' “fake news,” and manipulated media.
According to a report by the European Union's East StratCom Task Force, 75% of Russian state-funded media outlets produce biased or fake content.
In 2020, over 100 million Twitter users were exposed to Russian disinformation campaigns.
The tactics used include hacking, social engineering, and exploiting online vulnerabilities.
With no single party likely to secure an absolute majority, Germany is set to have another multi-coalition government. This will require parties to form alliances and compromise on key issues, a process that has proven challenging in the past.
Two years into an economic recession, German businesses are sounding the alarm and demanding a complete overhaul of economic policy. The country’s economy depends heavily on industry, which is responsible for roughly a quarter of GDP. With production output far lower than it was five years ago, the new administration will need to urgently address this issue.
An economic recession is a period of decline in economic activity, typically defined as a decrease in gross domestic product (GDP) for two or more consecutive quarters.
This can be caused by various factors, including monetary policy mistakes, international trade disputes, and global events such as pandemics.
During a recession, businesses may reduce production, leading to job losses and decreased consumer spending.
According to the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), the United States experienced a recession in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with GDP declining by 3.4%.
As the election campaigns enter their final stretch, parties are vying for attention and votes. Despite voter concerns about the economy, the election has been dominated by issues such as migration policies, crime, and outside interference.
Ahead of the February 23 snap election, Germany‘s political parties have selected their top candidates. Here is a list of some of the key contenders:
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Christian Lindner (FDP)
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Alice Weidel (AfD)
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Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW)
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Jan van Aken (Left Party)
DW will be tracking the major developments and answering your most pressing questions as Germany votes on Sunday. Stay tuned for live updates, analysis, and commentary from our team of experts.
