Bundestag election 2025: Who wins the race for power in Germany?

The focus today is on the Bundestag election in Germany, an event that will decide on the future political landscape of Europe's largest economy. The election gymnasts have opened since 8 a.m., and the approximately 59 million citizens entitled to vote are called to give their votes. According to the live ticker from Krone.at, the Union under Chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz (CDU) could probably emerge from the election as the strongest force, closely followed by the AfD. The SPD and the Greens traditionally rank in midfield, while the left is expected to move back to parliament again. The small parties, including the FDP and Alliance Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW), have to worry about their place in the Bundestag.

The formation of the government could prove to be complex and lengthy, since depending on the election outcome, between four and seven factions could be in parliament. Clear majorities for the classic political camps, i.e. center-right and center-left, no longer seem to be available. The distribution of the 736 seats in the Bundestag will be crucial for how Germany will be ruled in the next four years. It is also interesting that an estimated 239,500 Germans live in Austria, but not all are entitled to vote. The federal election manager reported that around 213,000 entries from foreign Germans were registered in the voters by Thursday, whereby the responsible municipal authorities play an important role, as Krone.at explains.

facts about the Federal Republic of Germany

Parliamentary democracy in Germany has been led by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier since 2017 and Chancellor Olaf Scholz since 2021. The Bundestag represents around 84 million citizens of the country, while the Federal Council organizes the interests of the 16 federal states, including the capital Berlin. Berlin is not only the largest city in Germany with almost 3.7 million inhabitants, but also an independent state.

The economic key figures of the Federal Republic are impressive: In 2022, the value of exports was around 1,575 billion euros, with the most important exports include automobiles and machines. This economic strength could be further influenced by the choice that takes place today. The importance of the Bundestag election cannot be underestimated, because it shapes how Germany and thus Europe will act in the coming years as to the whole population, as can be read on Deutschland.de.