Germany Shifts Political Landscape: A New Coalition Emerges After 2025 Election

Berlin – Germany has entered a new political era following the federal election held on February 23, 2025. The results triggered the collapse of the Scholz governing coalition and paved the way for a CDU/CSU-led government under Friedrich Merz. This election, held seven months ahead of schedule, saw shifts in voter preferences and the emergence of new political forces.

Election Overview and Results

The 2025 election saw a slight reduction in the number of seats in the Bundestag, decreasing from 736 in 2021 to 630 due to recent reforms in seat distribution. Voter turnout was high, with 82.5% of registered voters participating – a 6.2 percentage point increase from the previous election. A total of 60,510,631 citizens were registered to vote.

Here’s a breakdown of the key results:

• CDU/CSU: 28.5% of the vote (14,160,402 votes), securing 208 seats. This represents a gain of 12 seats.
• AfD: 20.8% of the vote (10,328,780 votes), winning 152 seats – a significant increase of 76 seats.
• SPD: 16.4% of the vote (8,149,124 votes), resulting in 120 seats. The party experienced a loss of 87 seats.
• Greens: 11.6% of the vote (5,762,380 votes), gaining 32 seats for a total of 85.
• Die Linke: 8.8% of the vote (4,356,532 votes), securing 64 seats – an increase of 36.
• SSW: 0.15% of the vote (76,138 votes), maintaining 1 seat.
• BSW: 4.98% of the vote (2,472,947 votes), a new party entering the Bundestag with 10 seats.
• FDP: 4.3% of the vote (2,148,757 votes), losing all 90 of their previous seats.

From Scholz to Merz: A Change in Government

The election outcome led to the formation of a new governing coalition led by Friedrich Merz of the CDU/CSU, in partnership with the SPD. This marks a shift from the previous SPD-Green coalition led by Olaf Scholz, which collapsed earlier in 2024 after losing its majority in the Bundestag. Scholz intentionally lost a motion of confidence to trigger the new election.

The Rise of New Political Forces

The 2025 election witnessed the emergence of the BSW (Bundestag Social Welfare) as a new political force, securing nearly 5% of the vote and gaining representation in the Bundestag. Conversely, the FDP experienced a significant setback, failing to retain any seats after previously holding 91.

Key Takeaways

• The CDU/CSU emerged as the strongest party, leading to a change in government.
• The AfD experienced substantial gains, increasing its representation in the Bundestag.
• The SPD suffered significant losses, losing a substantial number of seats.
• The election saw the entry of a new party, the BSW, into the Bundestag.
• The FDP was completely ousted from the Bundestag.

This election signals a period of political realignment in Germany, with the new CDU/CSU-SPD coalition facing the challenge of navigating a complex political landscape and addressing the evolving needs of the nation.