German Bundestag Election 2025 Heats Up with Controversies and Key Debates

As Germany approaches its federal election, controversies around candidates' statements, policy debates, and campaign incidents dominate the political landscape.

AfD leader Alice Weidel's claim that Adolf Hitler was a communist has been widely criticized, including by her party's co-founder Alexander Gauland, who refuted her statement as historically inaccurate.
Friedrich Merz, CDU's chancellor candidate, doubles down on his stance against any collaboration with the AfD, while addressing policy shifts on migration and fiscal reforms in his campaign.
The FDP has called for a special parliamentary session to push for a €3 billion Ukraine aid package, accusing Chancellor Scholz of blocking it due to disagreements over fiscal policy exceptions.
The election campaign has seen increasing tensions, including attacks on AfD campaign workers and vandalism targeting political parties' properties, raising concerns about political violence.
The Wahl-O-Mat, Germany's online voter tool, has set a new record with over 21.5 million uses, reflecting heightened voter engagement ahead of the February 23 election.