Germany Prepares for February's Early Bundestag Election

The shortened timeline poses challenges for overseas voters, with major parties vying for leadership in a tight race.

The Bundestag election is scheduled for February 23, 2025, following a decision for an early vote.
Overseas voters face logistical hurdles due to tight deadlines for requesting and returning mail-in ballots, with some raising legal challenges over potential disenfranchisement.
A total of 41 parties are eligible to participate, with 10 parties exempt from collecting support signatures due to existing parliamentary representation.
Recent polling shows a close race between CDU's Friedrich Merz and the Green Party's Robert Habeck for the chancellorship, with the SPD and AfD trailing behind.
Election officials assure sufficient recruitment of volunteer poll workers despite the compressed preparation period.