Germany’s far-right AfD party looks set to make large gains when the country heads to the polls on Sunday.
The centre-right Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) looks set to once again become the largest party in the Bundestag with 220 seats, allowing them to reinstall their first chancellor since Angela Merkel stepped down in 2021.
According to YouGov’s final MRP poll before the election, the far-right AfD’s 145 seats will surpass the 115 projected for the governing SPD, after its popularity has collapsed under chancellor Olaf Scholz.
The Greens, who partner the SPD in a coalition, are also projected to fall from their record 15 per cent vote share in 2021 to 13 per cent on Sunday.
German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier called the elections after Mr Scholz lost a vote of confidence in the German Bundestag on 15 January – after losing the support of his coalition when he fired finance minister Christian Lindner amid tensions over economic policy.
But the governing coalition had been falling in popularity long before the dispute within government, with the AfD having surged in federal elections in Thuringia and Saxony last September.
Key Points
- Germany is in fearful mourning while far-right AfD party surges in polls ahead of election
- How Elon Musk became champion of AfD
- Who are the candidates for Germany's next chancellor?
- Germany heads to the polls with far-right surge expected
Watch: Antifa protesters march ahead of far-right AfD rally in Erfurt
18:16
,
Andy Gregory
My colleague Tom Watling reports from Erfurt:
Watch: Far-right AfD supporters in Germany cite rising crime and social changes as reasons for support
18:15
,
Andy Gregory
Scholz backs lowering voting age to 16
17:21
,
Andy Gregory
Chancellor Olaf Scholz has once again spoken out in favour of lowering the voting age to 16 for future federal elections.
“This is already the case in many states and in many local elections in Germany. It worked well,” he was quoted by Der Spiegel as saying during his final tour of Brandenburg. “All the prejudices about it were wrong.”
Berlin Holocaust Memorial stabbing suspect wanted to kill Jewish people, prosecutors say
16:26
,
Andy Gregory
Campaigning for Sunday’s election has been marred by a series of high-profile attacks in which the suspects are from migrant backgrounds, shifting the focus away from Germany’s ailing economy and boosting support for the Alternative for Germany, which is on track to secure second place.
Prosecutors said on Sunday that the suspect in a stabbing at Berlin’s Holocaust Memorial two days before Germany’s election was a Syrian refugee who apparently wanted to kill Jews. The 19-year-old was arrested almost three hours after the knife attack on a Spanish tourist.
Police and prosecutors said the suspect, who approached officers with blood on his hands and clothes, arrived in Germany in 2023 as an unaccompanied minor and successfully applied for asylum. He lives in Leipzig. Evidence so far suggests the attack was linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Prosecutors are working to establish if the suspect, who is under investigation on suspicion of attempted murder and bodily harm, suffers from any mental illness. They said he was not previously known to police or judicial authorities in Berlin.
Our crime correspondent Amy-Clare Martin reports:
Germans' lives have 'changed' and country needs strong leadership, AfD supporter says
15:34
,
Tom Watling, in Erfurt
Jörn Kaulhausen, 63, told The Independent that he is an AfD supporter because the country has “changed” and it needs strong leadership.
He references 2015, when former chancellor Angela Merkel opened the German borders to more than a million asylum seekers.
“Our lives have changed. Our women live in fear. They can’t move in the cities like before,” he claimed. “A lot of people try to attack us with knives. Everyday we have crimes here in Germany.
“We can’t accept it anymore.”
Counterprotesters march ahead of AfD rally in Erfurt
15:10
,
Tom Watling, in Erfurt
In the small city of Erfurt, central Germany, the local Alternative for Germany is about to kick off its election campaign finale before voters go to the polls nationwide tomorrow.
The city is in the Thuringia region where the AfD is particularly popular in Germany. It is also one of the regions where the AfD has been designated as a far-right extremist party.
At least two thousand people are expected at today’s rally.
Counter protesters decrying the Alternative for Germany as Nazis were marching through the city ahead of the rally.
In the city’s main square, the counter protesters were set to gather just twenty metres from the AfD rally. Dozens of police vans lined the square between them.
What is Germany's hybrid voting system?
14:42
,
Andy Gregory
Germany’s reformed voting system aims to blend British or US-style single-member constituencies with the proportionality characteristic of most continental European countries.
Under the old system, proportionality was ensured by topping up parliament with extra seats after winners were found in each of 299 constituencies. This ensured parties held seats in line with their share of the vote, regardless of the distribution of constituency seats.
In 2021, that led to a parliament of 735 seats, one of the largest legislatures in the world.
A new law, introduced in 2023, fixes parliament at 630 seats – between Britain’s House of Commons and Turkey’s National Assembly in world rankings – and prioritises proportionality over individual member seats.
Now, if a party wins a share of seats that is greater in proportion to their share of the national vote, some constituencies will be left vacant, starting with those where the winning candidates have the narrowest margin of victory.
The change may hurt parties that are traditionally strong in single-member constituencies – in particular the Christian Social Union (CSU), the Bavarian sister party of the Christian Democrats (CDU) whose leader Friedrich Merz is tipped to become the next chancellor.
14:14
A German political scientist has suggested that increased polarisation in society will result in a higher voter turnout because people believe a lot is at stake – with many feeling that democracy itself is under threat.
While a high voter turnout is positive, Dr Sarah Strömel of the University of Regensburg told broadcaster ARD that in the long term the development towards more ideological polarisation of different opinions is not good for democracy.
“People think in black and white categories, in either-or categories and not in shades of gray”, which strengthens fringe parties and undermines tolerance, said Dr Strömel.
Frontrunner Merz says Trump could 'completely reshape the world map'
13:19
,
Andy Gregory
With European peace and security looming large in the minds of German voters, frontrunner Friedrich Merz warned at a campaign rally on Friday that Donald Trump’s administration could “completely reshape the map of the world”.
The CDU candidate has warned that Europe must be ready to take responsibility for its own defence without the help of the United States, and told the audience: “We are seeing a change of government in America that is not just another change of government but one that may completely reshape the map of the world.”
Mr Merz has also pledged to play a larger role in the EU, telling the Munich Security Conference: “I am hearing often that there is a lack of German leadership within the European Union. I fully agree with those who are demanding more leadership from Germany and frankly I’m willing to do that because Germany is in a strategic position at the centre of Europe and so many things depend on Germany that we are having to take a new role.”
What is a grand coalition?
12:49
,
Andy Gregory
Germany could face months of political uncertainty after Sunday’s election as the winning party will almost certainly have to form a coalition to secure a majority.
While Friedrich Merz is the frontrunner to become chancellor, he will need a partner, or possibly two. On a live TV debate on Sunday, Mr Merz said he would like to have two coalition options.
A so-called grand coalition of the two big centrist parties, the CDU/CSU and chancellor Olaf Scholz's centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) is seen as the most likely outcome, with analysts at the Eurasia Group giving it a 60 per cent likelihood.
The SPD and CDU/CSU have already governed together four times since the Second World War – three of those under the leadership of former conservative chancellor Angela Merkel.
Mr Merz, however, has moved the bloc further to the right, taking a tougher stance on migration than Merkel and a more pro-market position on the economy. The CDU/CSU wants broad tax cuts while the SPD wants to raise taxes for high-income earners and revive a wealth tax. That means both could struggle to agree on deeper reforms, except a possible easing of the debt brake.
Protests called against far right
12:14
,
Andy Gregory
Protesters against the far right are taking to the streets in German cities ahead of tomorrow’s election.
Der Spiegel reports on the various demonstrations which have been organised, including one named “Clear stance against the right” in Hamburg, another called “Against the AfD and the shift to the right” in Erfurt, and “No vote for isolation and agitation” in Berlin.
Shape of next German government could swing on tenths of a percentage point, poll suggests
11:37
,
Andy Gregory
The formation of the next German government could swing on just tenths of a percentage point, a newspaper has claimed, after it published a new poll.
In terms of the largest parties, the new Insa polling of just over 2,000 people was largely in line with YouGov’s final MRP poll – with Friedrich Merz’s centre-right CDU/CSU at 29.5 per cent, the far-right AfD party on 21 per cent, and Olaf Scholz’s incumbent SPD on just 15 per cent.
But Bild reports that the surprise winner would be the Left, which polled at 7.5 percent, with Insa chief Hermann Binkert saying: “The Left Party is the big winner of the election campaign. She has clearly fought her way over the five percent hurdle.”
Meanwhile, the Greens polled at 12.5 per cent, the leftist pro-Russian BSW at 5 per cent, and the liberal FDP at 4.5 per cent.
Although their chances of clearing the 5 per cent threshold for entering parliament hang in the balance, the FDP could still even enter into a government in the event that more than five parties manage to enter the Bundestag – which could mean that the CDU/CSU are forces to rely on both the SPD and the Greens for a parliamentary majority, Bild reports.
Scholz: 'I don't believe in miracles, but in an election victory'
11:10
,
Andy Gregory
Chancellor Olaf Scholz has claimed not to “believe in miracles, but in an election victory”, as his campaign draws to an end with his Social Democrats party polling in third place.
Speaking in his constituency in Potsdam, Mr Scholz told journalists: “I am quite sure that I can win the constituency again - just like last time. The mood is like that.”
“I don't believe in miracles, but in an election victory,” he was quoted as saying by Bild. “I am convinced that this time it will be the case that a lot of people will only make up their minds at the polling station.”
Mr Scholz, who has been chancellor since 2021, said he believed many people would cast both votes for his party “so that we are strong enough and so that the government can continue under my leadership”.
Germany warns of suspected Russian disinformation campaign spreading election fraud lies
10:50
,
Andy Gregory
Germany’s interior ministry has warned of a suspected Russian disinformation campaign spreading false claims of election fraud on social media.
Fake footage has been propagated suggesting that the AfD candidate has been left off ballots in Leipzig, while another claims to show a machine shredding votes cast for the far-right party, both of which have been debunked by local and national officials – who pointed to a potential Russian disinformation campaign.
“This is a targeted campaign designed to influence the Bundestag election,” an interior ministry spokesperson told Politico.
“Authorities in Leipzig and Hamburg quickly verified these videos as fake. The characteristics of this disinformation effort point to ‘Storm-1516,’ a Russian-affiliated influence operation that has been active in past elections.”
Storm-1516 is a Russian troll farm well known for spreading videos featuring false narratives, including one featuring a man claiming to be a Hamas fighter threatening an Olympic attack, and another in which a woman claimed former US presidential candidate Kamala Harris was involved in a 2011 hit-and-run accident.
Political posters defaced in Munich
10:16
,
Andy Gregory
My colleague Tom Watling reports from Munich:
AfD posters plastered around Munich have had to be raised higher off the ground to prevent them from being ripped up by angry pedestrians.
They are often plastered with small stickers saying “FCKAFD”.
Frontrunner Friedrich Merz has also seen some of his posters defaced with an Adolf Hitler moustache, after he threatened the longstanding “firewall” against the far right in Germany by accepting votes from AfD last month to push through a bill on tighter immigration controls.
Merz would spark 'competition for leadership in Europe'
09:51
,
Andy Gregory
Frontrunner Friedrich Merz would spark “a competition for leadership in Europe” and wants to “reinstate Germany’s leadership” in the EU, an analyst has suggested.
Politico cited people close to EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen as saying that she and Mr Merz – who both hail from the same party, but differ somewhat in their politics – would be able to transcend their past differences and find a harmonious co-existence based on the larger goals of strengthening the EU.
A CDU spokesperson told the outlet that the pair speak regularly by phone and co-operate well, while an EU Commission official close to Ms von der Leyen said: “They share the same goal to increase the competitiveness of Europe, including by making business simpler and faster.”
But others reportedly describe the relationship as being strained.
“The defining feature of this relationship is that it will potentially be a competition for leadership in Europe,” Jan Techau, a director at the Eurasia group think-tank told Politico. “She very clearly is interested in dominating the Brussels scene … whereas Merz of course wants to reinstate Germany’s leadership in Europe.”
German far-right leader 'seems like an adult in the room among extremists'
09:29
,
Andy Gregory
Alice Weidel, the far-right Alternative for Germany’s chancellor candidate, is an unlikely public face for a male-dominated, anti-immigration party that depicts itself as a defender of traditional family values.
The 46-year-old is raising two sons with a Sri Lankan-born woman, is a filmmaker, and speaks fluent English and Mandarin, having done a doctorate in economics in China. A western German leading a party that is strongest in the former communist East, she worked for Goldman Sachs and Allianz Global Investors and as a freelance business consultant before entering politics.
Ms Weidel’s unusual profile, however, is precisely what makes her an asset to the AfD, according to political analysts, lending a veneer of well-heeled liberal respectability to a party that is suspected by authorities of being anti-democratic.
“Weidel is someone who can appeal to a broader public than the typical AfD constituency, to the middle class bourgeoisie,” said Oliver Lembcke, political scientist at the University of Bochum. “She seems like the adult in the room among all these lunatics and extremists.”
Who are the contenders?
07:00
,
Alex Croft
Four candidates are running to be Germany’s next leader: incumbent Chancellor Olaf Scholz, of the centre-left Social Democrats; Friedrich Merz, the candidate of the mainstream conservative Christian Democratic Union party; current Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck, of the environmentalist Greens; and Alice Weidel, of the far-right, anti-immigration Alternative for Germany, or AfD.
Pre-election polls have put Merz’s Union bloc in the lead with support of about 30 per cent, ahead of AfD, with around 20 per cent. Scholz’s Social Democrats and Habeck’s Greens are further back.
Merz is favored to replace Scholz as chancellor, but it’s not yet clear what governing coalitions will be possible after the election. How easy it is to form a government may depend in part on how many parties are in the new parliament. Opinion polls show three parties hovering around the 5 per cent of the vote needed to win seats.
All mainstream parties say they won’t work with AfD.
Trump wishes luck to German parties
06:30
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
US president Donald Trump wished the parties in Germany luck after seemingly forgetting the European country is going to polls this weekend.
When asked by a reporter at the White House about his thoughts on the Sunday election, Mr Trump asked: "Who has elections?"
"Germany," the reporter replied."I wish them luck," Mr Trump said, according to DW. "We got our own problems."
Elon Musk wants the far right AfD to win the German election - here’s how he became their champion
06:01
,
Alex Croft
When a young German anti-climate activist nicknamed the “anti-Greta Thunberg” began flattering tech billionaire Elon Musk on X, few could have foreseen it leading to the tech billionaire wholeheartedly endorsing Germany’s far-right. It would take just ten months.
Germany goes to the polls on Sunday and there are fears the Alternative for Deutschland (AfD), a political party partly designated as far-right extremists, could win nearly a quarter of the national vote.
X owner turned Trump ally Musk has described the AfD as the only party that “can save Germany”, interviewed the party’s leader, Alice Wiedel, spoken at the AfD’s election rally and written an op-ed endorsing the party.
Tom Watling and Alicja Hagopian report:
Merz says 'Germany must be prepared to take on leadership responsibility'
05:19
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Election frontrunner Friedrich Merz, the head of the conservative CDU/CSU bloc, warned yesterday that while Germany's future lay in the West, it was not clear that the West would include the US anymore.
His statement comes at a time when Europe is seeking to tackle a confrontational Donald Trump, whose apparent wish to disengage from the region and mend ties with Russia raises questions about the solidity of the Western alliance.
"But even without Americans, our place remains in the centre of Europe, not alongside [Vladimir] Putin and not isolated on the way to the right-wing populist sidelines," Mr Merz wrote in a letter to supporters. "For Europe to continue to succeed in the future, Germany must be prepared to take on leadership responsibility."
The key issues: Migration
05:01
,
Alex Croft
A slew of violent attacks linked to foreign suspects in Germany have compounded public concerns over security and migration, prompting political parties to demand stricter measures on migration.
After the most recent attack on 22 January, Merz sponsored a draft bill with AfD support, breaking a taboo against cooperating with the far-right party.
However, he later failed to secure a majority for the bill as some of the deputies from his own party refused to support it.
In general, the conservative CDU has adopted a stricter stance on immigration in recent years, calling for pushing back asylum seekers at the borders, and for limits on family reunifications and naturalisation for refugees.
The anti-Islam, anti-migration AfD has called for borders to be closed and asylum seekers to no longer have the right to family reunification. Some senior AfD members have gone further in their comments and were present at discussions among far-right activists about deporting millions of people of foreign origin, including German citizens.
The SPD itself has toughened its position by enforcing stricter border controls and accelerating deportations, although it also wants to bring in more foreign skilled workers.
In contrast, the Greens maintain a more open asylum policy, promoting state-backed sea rescue initiatives and simplifying family reunification processes and enhancing integration.
What happens after polls close?
04:02
Germany's electoral system rarely gives any party an absolute majority and opinion polls suggest that no party is anywhere near one this time. The country has no tradition of minority governments at national level, which means that two or more parties will most likely form a coalition.
There is no formal referee for the process of forming a new government, and no set time limit. Parties hold exploratory talks to determine who they have most common ground with, and one combination of parties then moves on to formal coalition talks.
Those negotiations typically produce a detailed coalition agreement setting out the new government’s plans. That will typically need approval at least from conventions of the parties involved. Some parties may choose to put it to a ballot of their entire membership.
Once that process is complete, the Bundestag can elect the new chancellor.
Knife attack outside Berlin Holocaust memorial leaves one injured
03:46
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
A Spanish tourist has been seriously injured in a stabbing attack at Berlin's Holocaust memorial two days before a watershed national election.
Officers arrested a suspect on Friday evening, shortly after the assault on the northern side of the vast field of 2,700 grey concrete slabs, across the street from the US embassy.
"Our forces have detained a suspect in the vicinity of the crime scene," city police posted on X, giving no details on his identity or possible motive, but adding that he would be interrogated. "Investigations continue."
More here.
Far-right surge expected in polls
03:01
,
Alex Croft
German voters will head to the polls on Sunday, with the far-right AfD party expected to surge.
The SPD and Greens, both part of the governing coalition, are likely to drop in popularity according to recent polling.
But Germany’s centre-right Christian Democrats, who were led by long-serving chancellor Angela Merkel until 2021, are likely to become the largest party in parliament.
German chancellor Olaf Scholz has struggled with popularity ratings for much of his time as the German leader.
Sitting at 18 per cent according to a Infratest Dimap survey last year, his popularity ratings were some of the lowest recorded by a German leader.
YouGov’s final MRP poll suggests the far-right AfD’s 145 seats will surpass the 115 projected for the governing SPD.
The Greens, the SPD’s coalition partner, are also projected to fall from their record 15 per cent vote share in 2021 to 13 per cent on Sunday.
It is the fourth snap election in Germany’s history, after president Frank-Walter Steinmeier dissolved parliament when Mr Scholz lost a vote of confidence in parliament.
Germany is in fearful mourning while far-right AfD party surges in polls ahead of election
02:24
,
Jabed Ahmed
With the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany party, residents in Munich tell Tom Watling of the horror of suffering the third suspected terror attack of the country’s election cycle
Frontrunner Merz says Germany's economy must improve for Berlin to become stronger voice in EU
17:56
,
Andy Gregory
Opposition leader and front-runner Friedrich Merz has vowed to revive Germany’s stagnant economy and defend Europe’s interests in his final pitch to voters.
At a rally in a Munich beer hall, Mr Merz told supporters that “three years in opposition are enough”.
Vowing that, “with me, Germany will have a strong voice in the European Union again”, he added: “Europe must be a player and not ask maybe to get a seat at a side table. No, we must sit at the main table; and we must safeguard our interests against Russia, against China, and if necessary also with respect to America."
He said, however, that “we will only gain respect in this European Union again if ... we finally overcome our country's economic weakness”, which he described as “overwhelmingly homemade”.
Watch: German activists condemn Tesla for Musk’s one-handed salute at Trump’s inauguration
02:00
,
Alex Croft
Resistance against AfD grows
01:23
,
Tom Watling
Counter-protests across Germany, including in Munich, have seen hundreds of thousands rally against the AfD.
Germany has long maintained a policy of Brandmauer—a political firewall refusing cooperation with far-right parties since the 1950s. However, AfD posters across Munich have been raised higher to prevent them from being torn down, and many have been vandalized with “FCKAFD” stickers.
CDU leader Friedrich Merz tested this firewall last month by accepting AfD votes to push through an immigration bill. As a result, his campaign posters have been defaced.
Merz insists that if he wins, he will not form a coalition with the AfD but will instead seek alliances with other parties.
How austerity and the debt brake opened the door to the far-right
01:02
,
Alex Croft
In Gelsenkirchen, a former coal town in Germany's industrial Ruhr Valley, Lars Baumguertel, 58, oversees one of the region's last surviving manufacturers.
His company, like many Mittelstand businesses – the small and medium-sized enterprises that form the backbone of the German economy – is struggling under the weight of soaring energy costs following the disruption of cheap Russian gas supplies after the Ukraine war.
This struggle is reflected in Germany's broader economic woes. The nation, Europe's largest economy, has experienced consecutive years of contraction in 2024, marking its worst performance in two decades.
Gelsenkirchen, with the country's highest unemployment rate, has been particularly hard hit. This economic hardship has fuelled a surge in support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
Far-right AfD gains momentum amid rising fears
00:27
,
Jabed Ahmed
Attacks across the nation have intensified Germany’s already toxic political environment, with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) capitalizing on them to push for stricter immigration policies.
AfD leader Alice Weidel, championed by X owner Elon Musk, posted on social media after the Munich attack: “Is this supposed to go on forever? Migration turnaround now!”
The AfD, despite being officially designated as far-right extremists in some factions, has climbed to second in national polls behind the CDU, holding about 21% of the vote. In Munich and surrounding areas, it polls around 12%, while the CDU’s sister party, the CSU, remains a strong favourite.
What’s up for grabs?
00:00
,
Alex Croft
At least 59.2 million people in a country of 84 million are eligible to vote for the new Bundestag, or lower house of parliament. It is the 630-member Bundestag that will elect the next chancellor, Germany’s equivalent of a prime minister.
There are 29 parties on the ballot, but it’s likely that between five and eight of them will get enough votes to win seats in parliament. In most cases, parties must win at least 5 per cent of the vote to get a share of the seats.
Germany is in fearful mourning while far-right AfD party surges in polls ahead of election
Friday 21 February 2025 23:56
,
Jabed Ahmed
With the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany party, residents in Munich tell Tom Watling of the horror of suffering the third suspected terror attack of the country’s election cycle
The key issues: Relations with Trump
Friday 21 February 2025 23:00
,
Alex Croft
The question of how to tackle the new administration of US President Donald Trump, who has already flagged the possibility of increased tariffs and reduced military support for Europe, is particularly sensitive for Germany. The US remains the top destination for German exports and its main security ally.
The SPD's Scholz has sharply countered Trump's comments on Greenland and Canada, while conservative frontrunner Merz warned against lecturing him, emphasising instead areas of possible cooperation like a potential EU-U.S. trade deal or joint China strategy.
The Greens' Habeck said the EU must stand united and seek talks with the Trump administration because a trade war will ultimately harm all sides.
All of the mainstream parties have voiced scepticism about Trump's demand for European countries to increase spending on defence to 5 per cent of economic output, given that Germany will already struggle to keep to 2 per cent after its special fund for the military runs out. Habeck, however, has already proposed an increase to 3.5 per cent.
The German party that has most embraced the Trump administration is the AfD, which received multiple endorsements from Trump's ally Elon Musk, resulting in his conversation on X with the party's chancellor candidate Alice Weidel.
A nation grieves after recent attack in Munich
Friday 21 February 2025 22:27
,
Tom Watling
A middle-aged woman clutching an emptied cardboard box stands silently over the latest pile of fresh red flowers near Munich central station. A pink child’s dress hangs on the railings above, next to an Algerian flag and a doll. Teddy bears sit among placards calling for peace.
It has been just over a week since a 24-year-old Afghan asylum seeker drove his white Mini into a crowd attending a trade union demonstration—the third suspected terror attack in Germany in as many months.
More than two dozen were injured. A woman originally from Algeria, who later worked for the government, and her two-year-old child were killed.
A string of attacks fuels political tensions
Friday 21 February 2025 22:22
,
Tom Watling
Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced the collapse of his three-way coalition in November, bringing the originally scheduled September election forward.
Following the coalition’s collapse:
- December: A 50-year-old Saudi Arabian man drove a truck into a Christmas market in Magdeburg, killing six and injuring 200.
- January: A 28-year-old Afghan man attacked a school group, killing a two-year-old child and a man in Aschaffenburg.
- February: Last Thursday, an attack in Munich left multiple victims. Authorities believe the assailant, Farhad Noori, may have had “Islamist motivation.”
Five reasons why Germany’s economy is in the dumps
Friday 21 February 2025 21:57
,
Alex Croft
Germany hasn't seen significant economic growth in five years.
It's a stunning turnaround for Europe's biggest economy, which for much of this century had expanded exports and dominated world trade in engineered products like industrial machinery and luxury cars.
So what happened? Here are five reasons for Germany's ongoing economic slump:
The key issues: War in Ukraine
Friday 21 February 2025 20:53
,
Alex Croft
Germany's mainstream parties all favour helping Ukraine fend off Russia's invasion, while the AfD and BSW want an end to weapons deliveries to Kyiv and a resumption of good relations with Moscow.
However, Scholz and his SPD have recently struck a more cautious tone - emphasising the need for diplomacy - than the conservatives, Greens and FDP, who are all in favour of Germany delivering long-range Taurus missiles to Kyiv.
The key issues: Reviving the economy
Friday 21 February 2025 19:49
,
Alex Croft
Scholz has proposed incentivising private investment and modernising infrastructure with an off-budget, €100 billion fund. His SPD also plans a direct tax refund of 10 per cent on equipment investments by businesses.
The Greens' Robert Habeck has, like Scholz, called for reform of Germany's constitutionally enshrined debt brake to allow for higher public spending.
Merz had also signalled some openness to a moderate reform of the debt brake but his party's manifesto has pledged to retain it. The AfD and the FDP are fierce defenders of the limit on public borrowing.
The CDU/CSU manifesto has proposed extensive financial relief for companies and citizens, including income and corporate tax cuts, and lower electricity charges. They have not said how these would be financed.
The AfD wants Germany to ditch the euro, reintroduce the Deutsche Mark and potentially leave the EU.
In pictures: Germany prepares to head to the polls
Friday 21 February 2025 18:45
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Alex Croft
German voters head to the polls this weekend – here is what to expect
Friday 21 February 2025 17:38
,
Alex Croft
Germans head to the polls on Sunday in a pivotal election that will shape the country's trajectory for the next four years and significantly influence Europe's political landscape.
As the European Union’s most populous nation and a leading member of Nato, Germany's political direction holds substantial weight on the international stage.
The election's outcome will also determine Germany's continued role in supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression, as the country currently stands as the second largest weapons supplier to Ukraine after the United States.
The new German government will also play a key role in shaping Europe's relationship with the Trump administration.
Elon Musk wants the far right AfD to win the German election - here’s how he became their champion
Friday 21 February 2025 16:33
,
Alex Croft
When a young German anti-climate activist nicknamed the “anti-Greta Thunberg” began flattering tech billionaire Elon Musk on X, few could have foreseen it leading to the tech billiona