Amidst increasing political turmoil, Germany’s unpopular three-party coalition government led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz effectively collapsed last month. On Dec. 16, 2024, Scholz called a confidence vote in the German parliament—losing by a tally of 394-207, with 116 lawmakers abstaining. 

The country’s parliamentary elections, originally scheduled for September 2025, will now take place on Feb. 23, moving up the election timeline by around seven months. This means Germany, Europe’s largest economy, is in the hands of a caretaker government—unable to make major policy decisions in the face of mounting uncertainty regarding economic security and international relations. While the current government will continue to govern Germany, decisions that must be approved by the German parliament will be decided on a case-by-case basis. This is because no group has a large enough coalition to hold a majority in parliament.

The situation comes after the collapse of the French government earlier last month, reflecting a crisis of leadership and political fragmentation across Europe. At the same time, the vote marks a new era of instability in German politics. The country is typically known for its stable coalitions and steady government, with the February election being only the fourth “snap election” in its post-war history. 

Seven German political parties hold a realistic chance of gaining votes in the upcoming election. German voters have recently moved away from mainstream parties toward those on the political fringes, especially the right. This includes the far-right Alternative for Germany Party, or AFD, polling nearly one-fifth of the vote and gaining traction. 

Going into the election, political parties face issues of immigration and the state of the economy, which are high priority for voters, alongside issues of foreign affairs and environmental and climate protection. Between wars in Ukraine and the Middle East and US President Donald Trump’s promised tariffs threatening the German economy, the new government will undoubtedly face important and impactful decisions.

Article by Lily Yao