Germany Votes in Early Bundestag Election Following Government Collapse

The election, brought forward by seven months after the coalition's breakdown, sees heightened voter turnout and a potentially complex path to forming a new government.

Voter turnout by mid-afternoon was reported at 52%, significantly higher than at the same time during the 2021 election, though final participation rates remain uncertain.
The election was moved up after the collapse of the SPD-Green-FDP coalition in November 2024, triggered by a failed vote of confidence by Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Key issues shaping the campaign include debates on migration policy and economic reforms, with CDU candidate Friedrich Merz leading in pre-election polls.
The newly reformed electoral system reduces the Bundestag's size to 630 seats, eliminating overhang and compensation mandates for a more streamlined representation.
Early indications suggest a challenging road for coalition-building, with the CDU seeking two-party agreements and smaller parties like the FDP and BSW facing potential struggles to surpass the 5% threshold.