When are fresh elections likely to be held in Germany?

Germans are scheduled to go to the polls in September 2025 – but the date will most likely be moved forward by several months – and there are even calls for it to take place in January. What can we expect – and who can vote?

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It means the country is heading towards earlier federal elections than planned.

When will Germans go to the polls?
That’s still unclear but we have a few indications as to when it will happen.
Firstly, let’s look at the current situation and the process.
Currently German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, of the SPD, is leading a minority government. That means in order to get a majority for laws that are still pending in the Bundestag by the end of December 2024, the now SPD-Green coalition would need the support of the current opposition, for example the Union (the CDU and CSU).
Meanwhile, Scholz could look for a new majority in the current Bundestag that would support him permanently and he could form a new governing coalition without a new election. However, CDU leader Friedrich Merz has already publicly ruled out entering into a government with the red-green constellation.
That’s why snap elections are the most likely outcome.

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To call for a new election in Germany before the end of term a few steps need to happen.
According to Basic Law – the German constitution – a chancellor can call for a vote of confidence in the Bundestag to confirm whether they still have the support of the lower house of parliament.
If the chancellor fails to win a majority, they can then ask the president to dissolve parliament within 21 days, which German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has indicated he is ready to do.
Chancellor Scholz said that he wants to call a vote of confidence in the first week of the Bundestag session in the new year on January 15th.
This would likely be followed by elections by the end of March at the latest.
But plenty of opposition politicians want it to be held earlier. They are calling for a vote of confidence to be called next week, which would pave the way for Germans to go to the polls in January.
CDU leader Merz has repeatedly called for elections to be held quickly. Merz told broadcaster ARD that the CDU/CSU would only be prepared to talk about supporting legislative proposals once Scholz had called a vote of confidence – effectively holding him ransom. “We will not hold talks on any topic with the remaining government before then,” he said.
Merz floated January 19th as a possible election date “On January 20th, 2025, a Monday, the new American government will take office,” Merz told Stern and RTL on Friday. “New elections could be held in Germany on January 19th.”

Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz (R-L), German Minister of Economics and Climate Protection Robert Habeck and new German Finance Minister Joerg Kukies are pictured after his swearing-in at the Bundestag, Germany’s lower house of parliament, in Berlin on November 7, 2024. – (Photo by John MACDOUGALL / AFP)
Several large business organisations have also called for an earlier date for the early election.
The industry federation BDI and the automakers’ group VDA both demanded a new government “as quickly as possible.”
“Every additional day with this federal government is a lost day,” said the foreign trade association BGA.

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And many of the public want an earlier vote too. Two-thirds of German residents surveyed in a snap poll on Thursday said new elections should take place in January. Only one-third said they supported Scholz’s plan of holding a confidence vote in January and waiting for new elections until March.
Discussing the steps it takes to dissolve a government, German President Steinmeier on Thursday urged political leaders to refrain from “tactics and skirmishes” in view of the political uncertainty. “It is time for reason and responsibility,” Steinmeier added.
Scholz said on Friday he was open to negotiating the vote of confidence and election date.
You can expect German politicians to head into campaigning mode soon – and posters to pop up on lampposts around the country.
And at the moment, polls are pointing to a CDU win – but that could change.
Political scientist Kai Arzeheimer told The Local: “Polling in the low 30s (percent), the CDU/CSU is currently the strongest party. On current numbers, they would be able to form a coalition with the SPD that would be led by Friedrich Merz.
“A lot can change over the next four months, but right now, that looks like the most likely outcome.”
READ ALSO: What would a CDU win mean for Germany?

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Can foreign residents vote in federal elections?
Unfortunately not. Only German citizens can vote in a federal election.
That includes anyone with dual citizenship (for example those who hold a German passport and their origin nationality). After the law on dual nationality changed earlier this year, many more people may fall into this category.
People also have to be over the age of 18 in Germany to cast a ballot in federal elections.

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There is political turmoil in Germany after the coalition government – comprised of the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD), the Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) – broke down.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz sacked the FDP Finance Minister Christian Lindner on Wednesday night, resulting in the collapse of the three-way formation.
READ ALSO:
It means the country is heading towards earlier federal elections than planned.
When will Germans go to the polls?
That’s still unclear but we have a few indications as to when it will happen.
Firstly, let’s look at the current situation and the process.
Currently German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, of the SPD, is leading a minority government. That means in order to get a majority for laws that are still pending in the Bundestag by the end of December 2024, the now SPD-Green coalition would need the support of the current opposition, for example the Union (the CDU and CSU).
Meanwhile, Scholz could look for a new majority in the current Bundestag that would support him permanently and he could form a new governing coalition without a new election. However, CDU leader Friedrich Merz has already publicly ruled out entering into a government with the red-green constellation.
That’s why snap elections are the most likely outcome.
To call for a new election in Germany before the end of term a few steps need to happen.
According to Basic Law – the German constitution – a chancellor can call for a vote of confidence in the Bundestag to confirm whether they still have the support of the lower house of parliament.
If the chancellor fails to win a majority, they can then ask the president to dissolve parliament within 21 days, which German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has indicated he is ready to do.
Chancellor Scholz said that he wants to call a vote of confidence in the first week of the Bundestag session in the new year on January 15th.
This would likely be followed by elections by the end of March at the latest.
But plenty of opposition politicians want it to be held earlier. They are calling for a vote of confidence to be called next week, which would pave the way for Germans to go to the polls in January.
CDU leader Merz has repeatedly called for elections to be held quickly. Merz told broadcaster ARD that the CDU/CSU would only be prepared to talk about supporting legislative proposals once Scholz had called a vote of confidence – effectively holding him ransom. “We will not hold talks on any topic with the remaining government before then,” he said.
Merz floated January 19th as a possible election date “On January 20th, 2025, a Monday, the new American government will take office,” Merz told Stern and RTL on Friday. “New elections could be held in Germany on January 19th.”

Several large business organisations have also called for an earlier date for the early election.
The industry federation BDI and the automakers’ group VDA both demanded a new government “as quickly as possible.”
“Every additional day with this federal government is a lost day,” said the foreign trade association BGA.
And many of the public want an earlier vote too. Two-thirds of German residents surveyed in a snap poll on Thursday said new elections should take place in January. Only one-third said they supported Scholz’s plan of holding a confidence vote in January and waiting for new elections until March.
Discussing the steps it takes to dissolve a government, German President Steinmeier on Thursday urged political leaders to refrain from “tactics and skirmishes” in view of the political uncertainty. “It is time for reason and responsibility,” Steinmeier added.
Scholz said on Friday he was open to negotiating the vote of confidence and election date.
You can expect German politicians to head into campaigning mode soon – and posters to pop up on lampposts around the country.
And at the moment, polls are pointing to a CDU win – but that could change.
Political scientist Kai Arzeheimer told The Local: “Polling in the low 30s (percent), the CDU/CSU is currently the strongest party. On current numbers, they would be able to form a coalition with the SPD that would be led by Friedrich Merz.
“A lot can change over the next four months, but right now, that looks like the most likely outcome.”
READ ALSO: What would a CDU win mean for Germany?
Can foreign residents vote in federal elections?
Unfortunately not. Only German citizens can vote in a federal election.
That includes anyone with dual citizenship (for example those who hold a German passport and their origin nationality). After the law on dual nationality changed earlier this year, many more people may fall into this category.
People also have to be over the age of 18 in Germany to cast a ballot in federal elections.

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