Paul Kirby is the Europe digital editor for EPA-EFE. Friedrich Merz is currently the front-runner to become the next chancellor of Germany, but as every German government must form a coalition, the outcome is uncertain. German voters will decide on 23 February who will lead their next government, with Merz’s conservative Christian Democrats expected to win the most seats in power. The main issues in this snap election are controlling immigration and reviving the European Union’s largest economy, following the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition last year. The vote for Germany’s next parliament, the Bundestag, is crucial as it comes after a series of deadly attacks that have put pressure on mainstream parties to reform immigration and asylum rules. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has gained support in response to these attacks. Friedrich Merz, Olaf Scholz, Alice Weidel, Robert Habeck, and Sahra Wagenknecht are the five candidates for German chancellor. The voting process in Germany involves over-18s casting two votes, one for direct members of the Bundestag and one for a political party in their state. The party that wins at least 5% of the second vote can enter the Bundestag. The conservative CDU and CSU parties are likely to win the most seats, but forming a coalition with the AfD has been ruled out, limiting their potential partners.
