As Germany braces for the federal election on February 23, 2025, political parties are actively organizing their strategies and candidates. The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in Niedersachsen has chosen Matthias Middelberg as their top candidate, setting the stage for a campaign focused on economic policies under Friedrich Merz. Other parties like the Greens, Free Democratic Party (FDP), Alternative for Germany (AfD), and Social Democratic Party (SPD) plan to finalize their candidate lists by early next year.
The election will see 630 members chosen through a mixed-member proportional representation system. The central contenders for the chancellorship include Olaf Scholz (SPD), Friedrich Merz (CDU/CSU), and Robert Habeck (Greens). Meanwhile, opinion polls currently favor the CDU, with Boris Pistorius (SPD) emerging as a strong challenger to Scholz.
A recent electoral reform mandates that parties must secure at least 5% of second votes or win three constituencies to enter the Bundestag. The Greens, led by figures like Katharina Beck and Robert Habeck, are determined to gain significant ground. The political landscape remains dynamic, with new parties such as the Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht and the Werteunion entering the fray, promising a competitive election ahead.
