Germany is heading to the polls today for early general elections. While the Christian Democrats are expected to come out on top in the voting; according to polls, the far-right AfD is predicted to secure second place in federal elections for the first time. These elections are expected to show record levels of support for the far right in Germany since the post-war era. AfD, which is experiencing such a significant rise in federal elections for the first time, remains in the spotlight with the support of the world’s richest person Elon Musk and US Vice President JD Vance. Here’s everything we know about one of the most critical elections in German history…The early general election in Germany today takes place under the shadow of the far right.
Prior to the early elections, the return of Syrian and Afghan migrants to their home countries was a key promise.
So what do we know about one of the most critical elections in the country’s history? This is a parliamentary election. The German people are casting their votes to choose the new Bundestag, the lower house of parliament.
The Bundestag is the lower house of the German Parliament. It consists of representatives of the German people, who are elected directly, freely, equally, and secretly every four years.
The parliament, along with the Bundesrat, forms the legislative body of the federal government in Germany. There are five candidates for the German Chancellorship.
OLAF SCHOLZ
Among them is Olaf Scholz, who has been in office for approximately three years. He faces a tough battle due to the impact of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine on the German economy.
The Social Democratic Party (SPD) politician pledges to raise the minimum wage from €12.82 to €15 per hour and to establish the “Germany fund” to increase investments.FRİEDRİCH MERZ
Scholz’s main rival is Friedrich Merz, the Christian Democratic Party (CDU) chairman and the Union Parties’ (CDU/CSU) candidate for Chancellor since 2022.
The politician, who took over the CDU leadership in 2022, is criticized for collaborating with AfD on migration policies.
Merz promises to increase border controls and accelerate asylum procedures.ALICE WEIDEL
Alice Weidel, the first candidate for Chancellor of the AfD founded in 2013, remains in the spotlight with the support of the world’s richest person Elon Musk and US Vice President JD Vance.
AfD supporters back Weidel with the slogan “Alice für Deutschland” resembling the banned Nazi slogan “Alles für Deutschland” (Everything for Germany).SAHRA WAGENKNECHTFrom the founders of the Left Party, Sahra Wagenknecht formed the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) last January after leaving the party.
Wagenknecht advocates strict measures against illegal migration and calls for improving relations with Russia. Wagenknecht receives support from voters on both the right and left with her views.ROBERT HAEBECK
Robert Haebeck, the leader of the ruling coalition partner Greens, is known for his opposition to fossil fuel use and nuclear energy for heating.
Haebeck criticizes Merz for collaborating with AfD to increase their votes and advocates for increasing aid to Ukraine. The government under Scholz found itself in the midst of the biggest crisis in Europe since World War II. On February 24, 2024, Russia began its invasion of Ukraine. The war directly impacted Germany, which is highly dependent on Russian natural gas.
Scholz made significant changes in Germany’s foreign and defense policies.The effects of the pandemic started to be felt during Scholz’s three-year term in office as Chancellor. Europe’s largest and the world’s third-largest economy fell into recession. Germany continues to experience its longest recession since World War II.The government engaged in budget discussions in the midst of an economic crisis.
Scholz dismissed Finance Minister Lindner, accusing him of putting the interests of his party above the country’s. Lindner, who was dismissed from his position, left the government. Scholz’s coalition government fell into a minority.
The Social Democrat Chancellor asked for a vote of confidence from parliament in December for his two-party government. The German Federal Parliament did not give a vote of confidence to Scholz’s government. Pursuant to the Constitution, the President decided on early elections.Germany’s electoral system was restructured after World War II to prevent extremist parties from taking sole power.
With the 2023 reform, the number of parliamentarians was limited to 630. 316 members of parliament are required to form the government.
No party is expected to secure this majority with the votes they will receive today.According to the latest election polls, AfD ranks in second place with approximately 20% of the vote. The conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Christian Social Union (CSU) coalition are in first place with just below 30% of the vote.
The current ruling party, the Social Democrats (SPD), has experienced a significant decline in recent years and is currently at around 15%.AfD aims to prevent refugees, deport rejected asylum seekers, and exert pressure for mass deportations.
They promote “traditional” German culture, reject Islam, question human-made climate change, support nuclear energy, and oppose diversity and gender policies.
The party also seeks to restrict NATO’s role and replace the European Union with a new formation.