On Sunday, Germans head to the polls following a high-stakes election campaign that has been dominated by economic struggles and a series of deadly attacks, bringing migration and security into sharp focus.
Friedrich Merz, the 69-year-old conservative leader, is the frontrunner to become Germany's next chancellor. His potential victory is closely monitored by both Europe and the U.S.
Merz has pledged to address most of the country's issues within four years—a significant challenge for Europe's largest economy and its aging infrastructure.
Should Merz's Christian Democrats (CDU) win, he will likely need to form a coalition with at least one other party, probably Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats, whose government fell apart late last year.
On the eve of the election, Merz firmly rejected any alliance with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which is positioned to become the second-largest political force, overtaking Scholz's center-left faction.
Around 59.2 million Germans are eligible to vote, with millions having already done so by mail. However, polls suggest that up to 20% of voters were still undecided as election day approached.
Polling stations open at 08:00 (07:00 GMT) and close at 18:00, with early results expected in the evening. This pivotal election has energized voters, with campaigning continuing until Saturday night, culminating in a final debate on national TV—the ninth one this month.
Germany faces significant decisions both domestically and internationally. Merz promises strong leadership in Europe, but Berlin is under pressure to increase military spending.
As Ukraine's second-largest provider of military aid, Germany's next administration will confront a U.S. president who has labeled President Volodymyr Zelensky a dictator and has disrupted the West's unified stance against Russia.
German political leaders were also taken aback by U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who met with the AfD's chancellor candidate, Alice Weidel, and advocated for ending the longstanding taboo of engaging with the far-right. In Germany, this taboo is known as a firewall or brandmauer. Merz faced criticism last month for using AfD support in parliament. Protests against the far-right took place in several German cities on Saturday.
The AfD, already popular in several eastern states, is rapidly gaining traction in the west, particularly among younger Germans on TikTok. One campaign video by Weidel has garnered four million views.
Her message is straightforward: Vote AfD, break the firewall, and transform German politics. The AfD seeks to leave the EU, abandon climate change measures, construct nuclear power plants, and restore gas lines and relations with Russia.