Turnout high in early voting

Friedrich Merz
Leader of the Christian Democrats (CDU) and candidate for chancellor

A former BlackRock Germany chair and amateur pilot, Merz is widely expected to become the next chancellor. He has promised to revitalise Germany’s stagnant economy, but his alignment with the far-right on migration has alienated potential coalition partners.

Olaf Scholz
German Chancellor and Social Democrat (SPD) candidate

Scholz’s stint as chancellor has been marred by surging energy costs and economic stagnation. His hesitancy on sending weapons to Kyiv has at times frustrated allies, though he has ultimately made Germany Ukraine’s second-biggest military backer. Scholz has said he will exit frontline politics if the SPD does not come first in Sunday’s vote.

Robert Habeck
Green candidate for chancellor

A former children’s author who served as vice-chancellor under Scholz, Habeck rapidly secured alternatives to Russian gas after the 2022 Ukraine invasion. But he drew criticism for shutting down nuclear power in the midst of the crisis and faced a backlash over a plan — later heavily watered down — to ban new oil and gas heaters. 

Alice Weidel
AfD co-leader and candidate for chancellor

A former Goldman Sachs analyst who is in a same-sex marriage, Weidel was long seen as the AfD’s attempt to present a moderate face to the public. But she has recently adopted the highly-charged term “remigration” and embraced some of the party’s most radical figures.

Christian Lindner
Leader of the Free Democrats (FDP)

Lindner, who served as Scholz’s finance minister, was instrumental in the breakdown of the coalition. After months of dispute over the 2025 budget Lindner was fired, paving the way for early elections. His party has subsequently been wracked by recriminations.