Germany Faces Political Fragmentation Ahead of February 23 Election

As traditional parties lose dominance, Germany's far-right and smaller parties gain ground, reshaping the political landscape.

Germany's upcoming snap election on February 23 highlights the growing fragmentation of its political system, with traditional center-right and center-left parties losing influence.
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is polling at approximately 20%, challenging the long-standing firewall against coalition partnerships with extremist parties.
Friedrich Merz, leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), faces criticism for his hardline immigration proposals and perceived alignment with far-right rhetoric, though his popularity has slightly increased in recent polls.
The Greens, historically a strong coalition partner, may see diminished influence due to a backlash against green policies and declining poll numbers, despite their urban and youth appeal.
Smaller parties, including the Left Party and its breakaway faction BSW, as well as the liberal Free Democrats (FDP), are struggling to surpass the 5% threshold necessary for parliamentary representation.