Chancellor Olaf Scholz to Run for Second Term in Germany's 2025 Election

Germany's next national election is scheduled for September 28, 2025, as confirmed by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier's office. Chancellor Olaf Scholz has announced his intention to seek a second term, although his center-left Social Democrats, along with their coalition partners—the Greens and the Free Democrats—are facing declining popularity due to ongoing internal conflicts. The Bundestag, Germany's lower house of parliament, will elect the chancellor following the election, which often involves lengthy coalition negotiations. Since taking office in December 2021, Scholz's three-party coalition has been marked by frequent disputes, undermining its effectiveness and public image. Recent negotiations over the 2025 budget were delayed by disagreements, highlighting the coalition's struggles to maintain unity. The government's challenges were further exacerbated by disappointing results in the recent European Parliament elections, where the conservative opposition bloc, the Union, emerged victorious, and the far-right Alternative for Germany secured second place. The Union, which previously governed Germany for 16 years under Angela Merkel, has yet to announce its candidate to challenge Scholz in the upcoming election. The party plans to finalize its choice after three state elections in the former East Germany, where the Alternative for Germany has gained significant traction. As the most populous EU member and the continent's largest economy, Germany's political landscape remains crucial for European stability and governance.