Germany Prepares for Critical Election as CDU-CSU Expected to Lead

Friedrich Merz's CDU-CSU likely to emerge as the largest party, with coalition talks and rising AfD support shaping Germany's political future.

• Germany's general election on February 23 follows the collapse of the 'traffic-light' coalition of the SPD, Greens, and FDP.
• Polls suggest the CDU-CSU, led by Friedrich Merz, will secure first place with around 30% of the vote, while the far-right AfD is projected to double its support and finish second.
• The SPD and Greens are competing for third place, with both likely to play key roles in potential coalition negotiations.
• Economic stagnation, immigration policy, and security concerns are dominating voter priorities, with recent violent incidents heightening public anxiety.
• Coalition talks are expected to be complex, as Merz has ruled out collaboration with the AfD, leaving limited options for forming a stable government.

28 Articles

Washington Examiner Al Jazeera Foreign Affairs Magazine NDTV Australian Broadcasting Corporation GZERO Media Le Monde Semafor The Guardian CNBC Al Jazeera RFI The Guardian New Statesman Deutsche Welle The Guardian POLITICO Forbes The Guardian Semafor The Guardian The Economist The Guardian