Overview

• 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.