Preparing for the elections in Germany, read what is the situation

Germany is gearing up for a key parliamentary election on February 23, following the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition government in December. The election comes amid a series of pressing issues, including a weakening economy, migration concerns, and the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The state of the economy is a central topic in the election, as Germany faces an economic slowdown. The ruling coalition, which included the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Greens, and the Free Democratic Party (FDP), broke apart due to disputes over the national budget. Chancellor Scholz dismissed Finance Minister Christian Lindner of the FDP, accusing him of blocking progress and prioritizing party politics over the country’s welfare.

Lindner fired back, claiming that Scholz had attempted to pressure him into breaching Germany’s constitutional debt brake, a measure designed to limit public spending. This standoff eventually led to the FDP leaving the coalition and a vote of no confidence, which Scholz ultimately lost.

The election will feature several key candidates, including the current Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who has faced criticism for his handling of both the economy and the tensions within his government. Scholz, who took office in December 2021, has seen his approval ratings drop.

Friedrich Merz, the conservative CDU/CSU alliance’s candidate, is positioning himself as a seasoned leader with strong conservative views. However, Merz has attracted controversy for accepting support from the far-right AfD party, though he insists he would not form a coalition with them.

Alice Weidel, the leader of the AfD, has gained popularity by advocating for stricter immigration policies, opposing progressive values, and challenging mainstream politicians. Weidel is an unusual leader for the far-right, as she is a gay woman with a Sri Lankan partner, living in Switzerland, while promoting traditional family values.

The election includes a broad range of parties, such as the SPD, the CDU/CSU conservative alliance, the Greens, the far-right AfD, the market-oriented FDP, the far-left Die Linke, and the populist Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW), which leans left.

According to recent polls, the CDU/CSU alliance is leading with 29% of voter support, followed by the AfD at 21%. The SPD has 16%, and the Greens have secured 12% of the vote.