This article was automatically translated from the original Turkish version.
The 2025 Germany Federal Elections were early general elections held on 23 February 2025. The elections were triggered by the collapse of the SPD-Greens-FDP coalition government formed in 2021. After the FDP withdrew from the coalition and Chancellor Olaf Scholz failed to secure a vote of confidence in the Federal Assembly, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier decided to call for early elections.
(A photograph of Friedrich Merz, the CDU/CSU candidate for Chancellor, speaking at the CDU headquarters on 23 February 2025 – Anadolu Agency).
The elections were conducted under a new electoral law enacted in 2023. The new law law capped the size of the Federal Assembly at 630 members, down from 733 in the previous election in 2021, to prevent further expansion. Under the new system, the “second game” vote, which determines the proportion of seats each party receives in parliament, has become more decisive.
A total of 29 political parties participated in the elections, in which 59.2 million voters were eligible to cast ballots. Voters used a single ballot to cast two separate votes: the first vote for direct candidates in their constituencies and the second vote for political parties. A 5 percent electoral threshold was applied, but parties winning direct mandates in at least three constituencies were granted dam exemption from this threshold.
Voter turnout reached 83.5 percent, the highest since German reunification in 1990. Economic issues, migration and security dominated the campaign agenda.
The election results made coalition negotiations inevitable, as no party secured a majority sufficient to form a government alone. The CDU/CSU finished first with 28.6 percent of the vote, while the far-right AfD achieved its highest vote share in history at 20.8 percent, placing second. The SPD received 16.4 percent, its lowest result to date. A majority of 316 chair seats is required to form a government in the Federal Assembly, and no party reached this threshold.
(Seat distribution in the German Parliament according to initial results – BBC Türkçe)
A total of 29 parties participated in the 2025 German Federal Elections. Parties aimed to enter the Federal Assembly through both direct constituency candidates and party lists. Under the new electoral law, parties needed to surpass the 5 percent electoral threshold or win direct mandates in at least three constituencies to gain representation.
The main parties that participated and won seats in the Federal Assembly are as follows:
Among the candidates, a total of 53 Turkish origin individuals ran across different parties. The SPD nominated 21 candidates of Turkish origin, making it the party with the highest number of Turkish-origin candidates. Candidates of Turkish origin also appeared on the lists of the CDU, The Greens, The Left, FDP, and BSW. For the first time, the AfD included two candidates of Turkish origin in its electoral lists.
In the election where a total of 4,506 candidates competed, 1,422 were women, representing 32 percent of all candidates, a decline compared to the 2021 elections. Following the election, it is expected that 16 to 18 candidates of Turkish origin will enter the Federal Parliament.
In the German Federal Election held on 23 February 2025, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Christian Social Union (CSU) parties collectively received 28.6 percent of the vote, finishing first. The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party nearly doubled its vote share compared to the previous election, securing 20.8 percent and placing second. The Social Democratic Party (SPD) received 16.4 percent of the vote, achieving one of the lowest results in its history. The Greens received 11.6 percent, The Left (Die Linke) received 8.8 percent, the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) received 4.97 percent, and the Free Democratic Party (FDP) received 4.3 percent. The FDP and BSW achieved results just below the 5 percent threshold but have not yet secured entry into parliament.
Based on these results, the 630 seats in the Federal Parliament (Bundestag) were distributed as follows:
(2025 German Election results – Anadolu Agency).
With these results, together no single party reached the 316 seats required to form a government on its own. Coalition negotiations became inevitable, with the SPD and the Greens emerging as the most likely coalition partners for CDU/CSU. CDU/CSU explicitly ruled out cooperation with AfD, further complicating the government formation process. Voter turnout was recorded at 83.5 percent, the highest level since German reunification in 1990.
The 2025 German Federal Election revealed significant differences in vote distribution between east and west Germany. AfD emerged as the strongest party in the eastern states, while CDU/CSU was dominant in western and southern Germany. The SPD and the Greens maintained their presence particularly in major cities but lost votes in some of their traditional strongholds.
In the former East German states of Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia, AfD was clearly the leading party. In these states, AfD’s vote share exceeded 30 percent, reaching 38 percent in Thuringia. CDU/CSU and SPD trailed behind AfD in these regions, while Berlin deviated from the general trend, with The Left emerging as the leading party.
In western Germany, in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse, Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland and Schleswig-Holstein, CDU/CSU received the most votes. In Bavaria, the CSU, the CDU’s sister party, maintained a strong position by winning first place in all constituencies.
The SPD gained votes in certain industry areas and in cities with high working-class populations but lost votes to CDU/CSU in some of its traditional strongholds. The Greens received strong support in major cities (Berlin, Hamburg, Munich and Frankfurt) but lost votes in rural areas.
Election results in major cities showed a more balanced distribution. In urban centers such as Berlin, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Munich and Düsseldorf like city, the Greens, SPD and The Left achieved significant vote shares. In contrast, CDU/CSU and AfD showed clear dominance in rural areas.
In particular, AfD achieved its highest vote shares in rural eastern regions, while CDU/CSU was dominant in rural western areas. The SPD and the Greens performed poorly in rural regions.
(2025 German Election Regional Distribution – Chart generated by artificial intelligence).
Following the 2025 German Federal Election, government formation negotiations began. Friedrich Merz, the CDU/CSU’s candidate for chancellor and the party with the most votes, was authorized to lead coalition talks.
(Party members following election results at the headquarters of the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU), 23 February 2025 – Anadolu Agency).
France President Emmanuel Macron congratulated Friedrich Merz on his electoral victory and signaled a willingness for Europe cooperation. USA President Donald Trump interpreted Germany’s election results as “a reflection of the demand for change in energy and migration policies.” NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced that his country would work in cooperation with Germany’s new government on defense policy. Ukraine State President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that he expected continued cooperation with Germany’s new leadership on defense and European security matters.
Following the election victory, Merz stated that “a stable and effective government must be formed.” He emphasized the need for Europe to develop a credible defense capability and called for a “more independent Europe” in its relations with the United States. He affirmed Germany’s commitment to NATO while asserting the necessity for Europe to strengthen its own security policies.
Following the 2025 German Federal Election, coalition negotiations led to an agreement between the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), the Christian Social Union (CSU), and the Social Democratic Party (SPD) to form a government. On 5 May 2025, the 144-page coalition agreement titled “Responsibility for Germany” was signed in Berlin by CDU Chair Friedrich Merz, CSU Chair Markus Söder, and SPD Co-Chairs Lars Klingbeil and Saskia Esken.
The coalition agreement outlines the key policies to be pursued by the government during its term. Speaking on behalf of CDU/CSU, Friedrich Merz stated that one of the new government’s primary priorities would be infrastructure investment and enhancing Germany’s effectiveness on the international stage through reform. SPD Co-Chair Klingbeil emphasized that economic and social cohesion policies were central to the agreement, and that the government would pursue social policies centered on workers.
The coalition agreement was shared with the public on 9 April 2025 and subsequently approved by the respective party committees of the CDU, CSU and SPD. Following approval, a list of ministers to form the coalition government was published and the government formation process was initiated.
On 5 May 2025, following the signing of the coalition agreement between the CDU, CSU and SPD, the ministers who would serve in the new government were made public. The coalition government consists of a total of 17 ministers, eight of whom are women, with positions distributed between CDU/CSU and SPD.
The cabinet members are as follows:
Ministers appointed from the CDU/CSU quota:
Ministers appointed from the SPD quota:
In addition, two appointments were made to positions with ministerial status, though not full ministerial portfolios:
On 6 May 2025, during the chancellor election vote in the Federal Assembly, CDU leader Friedrich Merz failed to secure the necessary majority in the first round. In the secret ballot presided over by President of the Bundestag Julia Klöckner, Merz received 310 votes out of 621 members of parliament. 307 members voted “no”, three abstained, and one vote was invalid.
As Merz did not reach the required 316 votes for election, the session was suspended. This marked the first time in German history that a chancellor candidate, following successful coalition negotiations, failed to be elected in the first round of the parliamentary vote. Jens Spahn, Chairman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, announced that Friedrich Merz would be renominated for the second round of voting and that a new vote would be held shortly in coordination with the SPD.
In the second round of voting held on 6 May 2025 in the Federal Assembly, Friedrich Merz was elected Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany. In the secret ballot chaired by President of the Bundestag Julia Klöckner, Merz received 325 votes out of 618 members of parliament; 289 voted “no”, one abstained, and three votes were invalid.
Olaf Scholz transfers office to Chancellor Friedrich Merz, 6 May 2025 – Anadolu Agency
With this result, Friedrich Merz became the 10th chancellor to assume office in Germany since the end of World War II. Following the vote, Merz traveled to Bellevue Palace in Berlin to receive his appointment certificate from Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. After the ceremony, Merz returned to the Bundestag and took the oath of office before the President of the Bundestag, formally beginning his term.
Subsequently, the new cabinet members also visited Bellevue Palace to receive their appointment certificates. In his address at the palace, President Steinmeier emphasized that the new government bears great responsibility for economic and social stability. The ministers took their oaths of office before the Federal Assembly on the same day, officially commencing their duties.
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Parties and Candidates in the Election
Election Results
Regional Distribution
Eastern Germany
Western and Southern Germany
Cities and Rural Areas
Post-Election Developments
International Reactions
Statements by CDU/CSU Leader Friedrich Merz
Signing of the Coalition Agreement and Formation of the New Government
New Government and Cabinet Structure
Chancellor Election and Parliamentary Process
Second Chancellor Election and Appointment of the Chancellor