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Germany election

Germany election usually refers to a federal Bundestag election in Germany, in which voters elect members of the Bundestag and, indirectly, the federal chancellor.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Germany election most commonly refers to the federal election for the Bundestag, Germany's lower house of parliament. Voters elect members of the Bundestag, who then indirectly elect the federal chancellor. The most recent federal election was held on 23 February 2025, with Friedrich Merz elected chancellor by the Bundestag on 6 May 2025.

Overview

Germany’s federal election is the process used to choose members of the Bundestag. The Bundestag then elects the federal chancellor, making the election central to national government formation.

Voting system

German federal elections use a mixed-member proportional system with two votes: one for a local constituency representative and one for a party list. The second vote largely determines each party’s share of seats in the Bundestag.

2025 federal election

The 2025 election was held on 23 February 2025 after the collapse of Olaf Scholz’s governing coalition. The CDU/CSU won the largest share of the vote, followed by the AfD and SPD.

Recent political significance

The 2025 result reflected major shifts in German politics, including gains for the AfD and a weak result for the SPD. The election also produced a new chancellorship for Friedrich Merz after the Bundestag vote in May 2025.

Key facts

  • Bundestag elections are the main national elections in Germany and determine the composition of the federal parliament.
  • Voters cast two ballots: one for a constituency candidate and one for a party list.
  • Parties need at least 5% of the second vote to enter the Bundestag, with some exceptions under election law.
  • The 2025 federal election was won by the CDU/CSU alliance with 28.6% of the vote.
  • Turnout in the 2025 election was 82.5%, the highest since German reunification.
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Canadian context

Germany is a major G7 partner of Canada, so German federal elections can affect Canada through trade, NATO policy, European security, and climate coordination.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Germany election?
It usually refers to Germany’s federal Bundestag election, which chooses members of parliament and determines who can become chancellor.
How often are federal elections held in Germany?
They are generally held every four years, although early elections can happen in exceptional constitutional circumstances.
How does the German voting system work?
Voters cast two ballots: one for a constituency candidate and one for a party list. The party vote is the main basis for seat allocation.
What was the result of the 2025 German federal election?
The CDU/CSU won with 28.6% of the vote, followed by the AfD with 20.8%, the SPD with 16.4%, and the Greens with 11.6%.
Who became chancellor after the 2025 election?
Friedrich Merz was elected chancellor by the Bundestag on 6 May 2025.

References

  1. German Bundestag — https://www.bundestag.de/en/parliament/elections/elections
    Supports: Federal elections in Germany; constitutional basis; elections generally held every four years.
  2. Deutsche Welle — https://www.dw.com/en/a-quick-guide-to-german-elections/a-4541194
    Supports: Two-vote system; mixed-member proportional representation; 5% threshold; 630-seat limit from 2025 reform.
  3. Deutsche Welle — https://www.dw.com/en/german-election-results-explained-in-graphics/a-71724186
    Supports: 2025 turnout; vote shares for CDU/CSU, AfD, SPD, Greens, and FDP result.
  4. BBC News — https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx29wlje6dno
    Supports: 2025 election outcome; AfD share; SPD performance.
  5. Al Jazeera — https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/2/24/german-election-who-won-who-lost-and-whats-next
    Supports: 2025 election results and projected seat distribution.
  6. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_German_federal_election
    Supports: Date of 2025 election and election of Friedrich Merz as chancellor on 6 May 2025.