Germany Votes For New Bundestag With Economy And Migration in Focus- wna24

Berlin: Germany votes on Sunday in a crucial election dominated by concerns over years-long economic stagnation, pressure to curb migration, and uncertainty over Ukraine’s future and Europe’s alliance with the United States.

The center-right opposition led by Friedrich Merz is expected to win, with polls indicating the far-right party is set to achieve its strongest result since World War II.

The electoral contenders in Germany have put forward contrasting plans to revive the country’s years-long struggling economy, which has been shrinking for the past two years and has struggled to achieve real growth for an extended period. Revitalizing the economy will be a central task for the new government.

Migration has become a key focus of the campaign, especially after a series of deadly attacks carried out by immigrants in recent weeks. This issue has dominated political discussions, with parties offering different solutions to address the growing concerns over immigration.

In response to the migration crisis, Friedrich Merz, the leader of the center-right opposition, promised to prevent individuals from entering Germany without proper documentation and to ramp up deportations if he becomes chancellor. He also introduced a nonbinding motion that called for stricter measures to turn back migrants at the borders, which was narrowly approved by parliament with support from the far-right AfD — a historic first in postwar Germany.

The issue of cooperation with the far-right AfD generated significant protests, with Merz facing criticism from his rivals. Chancellor Olaf Scholz accused Merz of “irresponsible gambling” and violating a long-standing political taboo. Merz, however, has denied any intention to work with the AfD, repeatedly affirming that his party would “never” form an alliance with them. 

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Meanwhile, mainstream parties have pledged continued support for Ukraine’s fight against Russia and will face the challenge of maintaining military spending commitments, especially as the special 100 billion-euro fund for defense modernization is set to run out in 2027.

Friedrich Merz, leader of the center-right opposition, has consistently led in the polls, with his Union bloc receiving 28-32% support in recent surveys. Merz is widely expected to replace Chancellor Olaf Scholz, whose Social Democrats have been polling at 14-16%, a result that would mark their worst performance in a postwar national election.

The far-right, anti-immigration party, Alternative for Germany (AfD), has seen a surge in support, securing around 20% of the vote, a marginal jump from its previous high of 12.6% in 2017. The AfD has also fielded its first chancellor candidate, Alice Weidel. However, other parties have maintained their stance of not working with the AfD, a position often referred to as the “firewall.”

The environmentalist Greens, led by outgoing Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck, are also in the running for the top job but have been polling just behind Scholz’s Social Democrats. Their support has not been as strong as other major parties in the race for the chancellorship.

Merz has promised “stability instead of chaos” following the collapse of Scholz’s three-party coalition, which faced internal disputes over issues such as economic revitalization. However, it remains uncertain whether Merz can form a stable government if he wins. While he hopes for a two-party coalition, he may need a third partner to secure a majority and form an effective government.