Germany’s major political parties are rolling out their agendas ahead of the February 23rd national elections, offering pledges of economic growth, tax breaks, subsidies, and stricter immigration policies.
Yet, for many voters, these promises may feel like déjà vu, given that the same parties have overseen years of economic stagnation, surging migration, and rising crime.
The collapse of the current coalition, driven by internal disputes, has paved the way for these snap elections. Polls indicate the center-right CDU/CSU alliance is poised to win with 31.5% of the vote, likely enabling them to form the next government. However, they’ll need coalition partners, as their preferred ally, the liberal FDP, risks falling below the 5% threshold needed for parliamentary representation. Cooperation with the right-wing AfD, currently polling at 19.5%, is off the table.
At a press conference, CDU leader Friedrich Merz and CSU head Markus Söder sharply criticized the outgoing SPD-Green coalition, calling them “embarrassing” and “incompetent.” The CDU/CSU emphasized their commitment to a tougher stance on immigration, contrasting sharply with former Chancellor Angela Merkel’s policies. They propose turning back illegal migrants at borders, deporting individuals to Syria and Afghanistan by classifying them as safe countries, and outsourcing asylum processes.
Yet, Merz made it clear that reviving Germany’s economy is their top priority. Their plan includes cutting corporate taxes to attract investment, providing financial relief for citizens, and supporting industries like car manufacturing that have struggled amid global competition and years of underinvestment.
The CDU/CSU also promises continued support for Ukraine and a return to mandatory military service. Merz described the alliance as “guarantors of peace and freedom” and pledged to send long-range Taurus missiles to Kyiv, a stance more aggressive than that of SPD Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Scholz, whose SPD trails in third place at 16.5%, focused on economic measures such as raising the minimum wage to €15 and modernizing infrastructure with a €100 billion fund. Despite boasting about reduced asylum applications, critics point to over 230,000 applications this year and the government’s failure to carry out 62% of planned deportations.
Meanwhile, the Greens propose tax incentives for middle-income earners to adopt greener technologies and advocate for lifting the debt brake to boost public spending. The FDP, on the other hand, champions lower taxes, maintaining the debt brake, and delaying climate-neutrality goals to 2050.
The AfD, polling second, has called for stringent immigration curbs, reactivating nuclear power plants, exiting the EU unless reforms are made, and halting arms deliveries to Ukraine. Despite their popularity, the AfD and the newly formed left-wing Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht are expected to be excluded from coalition talks.
As Junge Freiheit aptly summarized, regardless of who wins—be it Scholz or Merz—voters may see little change, with familiar faces continuing to steer the country’s course.
