The fate of Europe is at stake: Germany has begun its parliamentary elections, which have significant implications for Ukraine (updates ongoing).
On Sunday, February 23, extraordinary parliamentary elections are taking place in Germany. The CDU/CSU bloc may achieve a significant result, with its leader Friedrich Merz vying for the position of the next chancellor. The closest competitor is the far-right "Alternative for Germany" (21%). The Social Democratic Party of Germany, led by Olaf Scholz, could secure 16%.
"Telegraph" is monitoring the elections in Germany.
09:00 Polling stations open in Germany. Voting will continue until 18:00 local time.
What is known about the elections
The elections are taking place following the collapse of Olaf Scholz's coalition last November, which included the left-leaning Social Democrats (SPD), the Greens, and the Free Democrats due to disputes over budget expenditures.
On December 27, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier dissolved the parliament in response to a request from Chancellor Olaf Scholz. As a result, extraordinary elections are being held to form a complete team.
A total of 41 parties are allowed to participate in the elections. Parties that have been consistently represented in the Bundestag by at least five members since the last elections (in this election, SPD, CDU, Alliance 90/The Greens, FDP, AfD, CSU, and the Left Party) are automatically eligible without the need to collect signatures, or parties that have had at least five members in the parliament of any federal state since the last elections in that state (Alliance for Germany, the Alliance of Sahra Wagenknecht, and the "Free Voters").
Who is leading — polls
Recent polls indicate that AfD has 21%, which is double what they received in the previous federal elections in 2021, placing second after CDU-CSU with 29%, but ahead of Scholz's SPD with 16% and the Greens with 13%.
Friedrich Merz is leading the CDU/CSU bloc into the elections and is aiming for the position of the next chancellor. In pre-election ratings, his party has the highest score — 30%, according to ZDF-Politbarometer data. The closest competitor is the far-right "Alternative for Germany" (21%). The Social Democratic Party of Germany, led by Olaf Scholz, could achieve 16%.
Why these elections are so important
"Due to the inherent significance of Germany, these elections will also help determine whether Europe – not just the EU – can cope with a second term of Trump. Can this Europe provide defense and security to protect not only Ukraine, which is already a daunting task, but also the Baltic states, Poland, and other former Soviet satellites? Can it reform its shaky economic model? These are echoes that Britain cannot escape, even if it wants to,” stated Guardian columnist Martin Kettle.
Let us recall that earlier "Telegraph" reported that JD Vance refused to meet with Scholz and angered Germany. It has been reported that he had no plans to meet with the German chancellor from the very beginning, as Washington believes that Scholz no longer holds political value.