German voters go to the polls on Sunday to elect a parliament that will hold power for four years
German voters will head to the polls on Sunday in a pivotal 2025 election that will shape the country's direction for the next four years and influence Europe's political landscape. As the EU's most populous nation and a key NATO member, the election's outcome will impact Germany's role in supporting Ukraine against Russia and its relationship with the US. Polls open at 8 AM and close at 6 PM, with mail-in ballots due by 6 PM. Exit polls and vote counting begin immediately, with results expected early Monday. The main contenders are Chancellor Olaf Scholz (Social Democrats), Friedrich Merz (Christian Democratic Union), Robert Habeck (Greens), and Alice Weidel (Alternative for Germany). Polls show Merz's bloc leading at 30%, followed by AfD at 20%, with Scholz and Habeck trailing.
