Germany Prepares for Pivotal Federal Election Amid Rising Political Tensions
The upcoming election follows the collapse of Olaf Scholz's coalition, with immigration and security dominating the campaign and the far-right AfD gaining momentum.
- Germany's federal election, originally scheduled for September, was moved to February 23 following the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's 'traffic light' coalition over budget disputes.
- Polling indicates the CDU-CSU, led by Friedrich Merz, is leading with around 30% of votes, while the far-right AfD is projected to achieve a record high of over 20%.
- Immigration has become the central issue of the campaign, intensified by recent violent attacks attributed to asylum seekers, which have fueled public debate and political polarization.
- Friedrich Merz has faced criticism for breaking political norms by collaborating with the AfD on immigration policies, sparking internal CDU dissent and public protests.
- The fragmented political landscape may complicate post-election coalition talks, with potential outcomes including a CDU-Green alliance or a renewed 'grand coalition' with the SPD.
Le Figaro 
Sud Ouest 
l'Opinion 