If you’re looking for the date of the German federal election, you’ve probably noticed things got a little messy. It wasn’t exactly the smooth, four-year cycle everyone expected. Honestly, the whole political scene in Berlin basically did a 180-degree flip in the winter of 2024.
The short answer: The Germany election 2025 took place on February 23, 2025.
It was a snap election. Normally, we wouldn't have been heading to the polls until September, but the "Traffic Light" coalition—made up of the SPD, Greens, and FDP—fell apart in a pretty dramatic fashion. When Chancellor Olaf Scholz fired his Finance Minister, Christian Lindner, in November 2024, the government lost its majority. After that, it was just a matter of time before the whole thing reset.
Why the Date Changed So Fast
Usually, Germany likes its schedules. The original plan was for a late September 2025 date. But because the government collapsed, the country had to move fast. There was a lot of arguing between the parties about exactly when to hold the vote. Scholz originally wanted to wait until March, but the opposition, led by Friedrich Merz, pushed for a much earlier date.
They eventually landed on February 23. This turned the whole winter into a high-stakes campaign season.
It’s worth noting that this was only the fourth snap election in the history of the Federal Republic. It's rare. Usually, German coalitions find a way to stick it out, even when they’re miserable, but the budget disagreements this time were just too deep to fix with a band-aid.
Who Actually Won?
The results were a massive shake-up. If you follow German politics, you know the CDU/CSU (the conservatives) had been leading the polls for ages. They came out on top with about 28.5% of the vote.
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But the real shocker for many was the surge of the AfD (Alternative for Germany). They pulled in 20.8%, doubling their previous performance and becoming the second-largest force in the country. This created a huge headache for everyone else because no one—and I mean no one—is willing to form a coalition with them.
Here is how the main players ended up:
- CDU/CSU: 208 seats. Friedrich Merz became the frontrunner for Chancellor.
- AfD: 152 seats. Massive gains, but stuck in opposition.
- SPD: 120 seats. A "bitter" defeat for Olaf Scholz, dropping to their worst result in over a century.
- Greens: 85 seats. They lost significant ground but managed to stay relevant.
- Die Linke: 64 seats. They actually had a late-game surge to stay in the Bundestag.
Interestingly, the FDP—the party that essentially triggered the collapse—failed to hit the 5% threshold entirely. They got about 4.3% and were kicked out of parliament. It was a "live by the sword, die by the sword" moment for Christian Lindner.
The New Government: Chancellor Friedrich Merz
After the votes were counted in February, the real work began. Because of the "firewall" against the AfD, the CDU/CSU had to look elsewhere for partners. They eventually settled on a "Grand Coalition" with the SPD.
It wasn't easy. It took until April 2025 to get a formal agreement signed. Friedrich Merz was finally elected Chancellor by the Bundestag on May 6, 2025.
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Even that was dramatic. He actually failed the first round of voting—something that has never happened to a designated Chancellor in postwar Germany. He finally got the majority in the second round, but it showed just how fragile the new political landscape is.
Key Issues That Defined the Vote
People didn't just go to the polls because the government fell apart. There were deep-seated frustrations.
- The Economy: Germany's industrial heart was struggling with high energy costs and a lack of investment.
- Migration: This was the primary driver for the AfD's record-breaking numbers.
- The Debt Brake: A wonky but vital debate about whether Germany should borrow more money to fix its crumbling bridges and schools.
What This Means for 2026 and Beyond
Now that we are in early 2026, the Merz government is in the thick of it. The "honeymoon" period ended almost immediately. The coalition with the SPD is awkward, kind of like two exes trying to share an apartment for the sake of the kids. They disagree on almost everything regarding social spending and climate policy, but they’re united by the fact that they don't want the far-right to take over.
The next major hurdles are the state elections coming up in late 2026. Keep an eye on places like Saxony-Anhalt. If the AfD continues to lead the polls there, it’s going to put even more pressure on the federal government in Berlin to deliver results on the economy.
Actionable Next Steps
If you’re trying to stay ahead of the curve on German politics, here’s what you should do:
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- Monitor the "Debt Brake" debates: This is the real battleground for the Merz administration. If they can't agree on how to fund infrastructure, the coalition might start fraying by mid-year.
- Watch the state-level polls: The federal election in 2025 was just the beginning. The regional elections in 2026 will tell us if the AfD's momentum is permanent or just a protest peak.
- Follow the energy transition updates: The new government has decoupled the Economy and Climate ministries, which is a huge shift from the previous administration. This will affect business regulations and green subsidies across the EU.
The 2025 election was a turning point. Germany moved from a period of relative stability into a much more fractured, unpredictable era. Whether the Merz-Scholz partnership can actually fix the country's stagnant economy remains the biggest question of the year.