German voters will choose a new government on February 23. The Russia-Ukraine conflict, migration, and high energy prices remain central topics in the election.
World 19 Feb, 2025: German voters will choose their next government on February 23, with key issues such as immigration control and reviving the EU’s largest economy taking center stage in the snap election.
The Russia-Ukraine conflict is also on the agenda. Mainstream parties are all in favor of helping Ukraine defend itself against Russia’s attack, while the AfD and BSW want an end to weapons deliveries to Kyiv and a resumption of good relations with Moscow.
Account Manager Maike Splettstoehser said, “I think one of the things that moves people in Germany most might be the topic of migration not necessarily on their own accounts, but because it’s the topic that has been raised by all of the major parties and has set a movement into place with the people as well. It is a topic that is very important for every one of us, but the way it’s discussed is not often the optimal way.”
Many migrants have expressed a desire to integrate and contribute to society. Elena, from Ukraine, said that Germany helps Ukrainians a lot, but Ukrainians must also help Germany. “One simply can’t always live at the expense of the state that feeds you for years. People have to start working and make their contribution.”
The economy is another key issue in Germany. In Gelsenkirchen, signs of a downturn are visible everywhere. While the city played a big part in Germany’s post-war “economic miracle,” the rot set in with the decline of coal and heavy industry in the 1960s. The population has tumbled from 3,90,000 then to just 2,60,000 now, as the local economy has cratered. Now, voters in Germany are demanding change as Europe’s biggest economy stalls.
High energy prices remain a formidable challenge for households and businesses in Germany.
Every candidate who wins one of Germany’s 299 constituencies is guaranteed a seat. To fill the other half of the 598 seats in Germany’s Bundestag, voters cast their ballots in the second vote or “Zweitstimme.” This vote goes to a political party instead of a single candidate.
