Germany Prepares for Pivotal 2025 Bundestag Election Under New Voting Rules

The election will see a reduced Bundestag size, new seat allocation rules, and heightened competition among parties, including new entrants.

The 2025 Bundestag election, scheduled for Sunday, February 23, follows the dissolution of the Ampel coalition government and marks a significant political shift in Germany.
A new election law will reduce the Bundestag size from 733 to 630 seats, eliminating overhang and compensation mandates, and altering how direct mandates are awarded.
Voters in 299 districts will cast ballots, with 29 parties participating nationwide, though only 11 are running in all federal states.
The AfD, historically strong in eastern states like Saxony, and the CDU, led by Friedrich Merz, are expected to gain ground, while smaller parties like the BSW and FDP face challenges crossing the 5% threshold.
The election coincides with winter holidays in some regions, leading to a surge in mail-in voting as 3.3 million Saxony voters and millions more nationwide prepare to decide the next Bundestag composition.