Germany is heading toward snap elections after President Frank-Walter Steinmeier dissolved the lower house of parliament on Friday. The elections are scheduled for February 23, 2025, following the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s three-party coalition government.
In a speech, Steinmeier emphasized the importance of stability, saying that, especially in challenging times, the country needs a government capable of making decisions and a parliament with reliable majorities. He argued that early elections would provide a clearer path forward to a more stable and effective government.
Steinmeier also stressed that after the elections, solving the country’s problems must become the primary focus of politics. He called for a fair and transparent election campaign, warning that external interference—whether covert, like in Romania’s recent elections, or open manipulation through platforms like X (formerly Twitter)—poses a serious threat to democracy.
Chancellor Scholz, a member of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), will continue leading a caretaker government until a new administration is formed. Earlier this month, Scholz’s government lost a confidence vote in parliament after the Free Democrats (FDP), led by Finance Minister Christian Lindner, left the coalition. This withdrawal left the government without a majority, forcing the snap elections.
The confidence vote also marked the start of the election campaign, with conservative leader Friedrich Merz taking aim at Scholz’s government. Merz, who is considered a strong contender to replace Scholz, has criticized the current government for over-regulating the economy and stifling growth.
Recent polls show the conservatives leading by more than 10 points over the SPD, with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) slightly ahead of the SPD as well. The Greens, another coalition partner, are currently in fourth place.
Although mainstream parties have rejected the idea of forming a coalition with the AfD, the party’s growing influence complicates the political landscape. This could result in unstable coalitions that struggle to find common ground in the future.