  German election 2025

Last week, in the middle of the election campaign, Germany's Bundestag voted on proposals to tighten migration policy brought by the CDU/CSU opposition parliamentary group. An initial motion was supported by a fiercely debated majority achieved with the support of the AfD, which is suspected of right-wing extremism by the country's domestic intelligence agency. Another motion on specific changes to the immigration laws failed two days later. Europe's press takes a worried look.

A majority of the German Bundestag on Wednesday approved a non-binding motion put forward by the CDU/CSU faction to tighten the country's migration policy, which includes the introduction of permanent border controls. The vote was hotly contested as it passed with the votes of the AfD, which is classified by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution as a suspected right-wing extremist organisation. Europe's press weighs in.

On Monday the majority of the members of the German parliament withdrew its confidence in Chancellor Olaf Scholz, officially clearing the way for new elections on 23 February. Scholz will be running again as the top candidate of the SPD, but the leader of the opposition Friedrich Merz (CDU) is ahead in the polls. Europe's press takes stock.

After the collapse of the traffic light coalition between the SPD, FDP and Greens, Germany seems headed for new elections on 23 February, according to the latest plan. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had initially hoped to get certain major decisions through parliament before holding a vote of confidence in the Bundestag. Europe's press observes the situation in Berlin with concern, but also sees opportunities.

A policy paper by German Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) that was leaked on Friday has triggered a major dispute among the three members of Germany's traffic light coalition government in Berlin. The SPD and the Greens have harshly criticised the economically liberal proposals set out in the paper, which include cutting business taxes and postponing climate protection targets. Commentators are not alone in wondering whether this is the beginning of the end for Germany's government.

Friedrich Merz, leader of Germany's conservative CDU, has been nominated as the chancellor candidate for his party and its Bavarian sister party CSU in the country's next general election in 2025. "Merz is our man," CSU leader Markus Söder said on Tuesday, after his own withdrawal from the race.Commentators take very different views on the new candidate.