Germany Prepares for Early Bundestag Election Amid Government Collapse

The 2025 Bundestag election, scheduled for February 23, will feature a reformed voting system aimed at reducing parliamentary size.

The early election was triggered by the collapse of the Ampel coalition after the FDP exited the government in November 2024, leading to the loss of a parliamentary majority.
A new election law will cap the Bundestag at 630 seats, eliminating overhang and compensation mandates for the first time.
Voters will still cast an Erststimme (for direct candidates) and a Zweitstimme (for party lists), but winning a district no longer guarantees a seat in parliament.
The SPD's Olaf Scholz and CDU's Friedrich Merz are the leading candidates for chancellor, with major debates highlighting differences in policy on economy, migration, and governance.
Polling stations will be open on February 23 from 8 AM to 6 PM, with results expected later that evening or the following morning.