Germany to Hold Snap Election on February 23
Germany is expected to hold a snap election on February 23 after the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition last month. The country’s two major centrist parties, the Social Democrats (SPD) and the opposition conservatives, have been losing support in recent years, with smaller parties like the Greens and far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) gaining ground.
The SPD, conservatives, Greens, and AfD are all fielding candidates for chancellor, along with the pro-market Free Democrats (FDP), the far-left Linke, and the leftist Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW). However, according to polls, the conservatives are leading with 31.5%, followed by the AfD with 19%, and the SPD with 17%.
The election is expected to focus on several key policy issues, including Ukraine, the economy, migration, and energy. On Ukraine, all mainstream parties support helping Ukraine fend off Russia’s invasion, but the AfD and BSW want to end weapons deliveries to Kyiv and resume good relations with the Kremlin.
The economy is also expected to be a major issue, with proposals including incentivizing private investment, updating infrastructure, and reforming the constitutionally enshrined debt brake. The AfD and FDP are fierce defenders of the debt brake limit on public borrowing.
Migration is another key issue, with the AfD advocating for closed borders and limiting asylum seekers’ rights to family reunification. The conservatives have also adopted a stricter stance on immigration, while the Greens maintain a more open asylum policy.
Energy prices are also a major challenge for households and businesses in Germany, with the CDU, SPD, and Greens agreeing on expanding renewable energy to reduce costs. However, they differ on financing approaches, with the CDU suggesting using higher CO2 certificate revenues to lower network fees, while the SPD and Greens advocate for debt-financed state subsidies. The AfD opposes renewable energy subsidies entirely, advocating for unrestricted coal-fired power plant operations and abolishing CO2 pricing.
