Germany holds Bundestag elections: Key candidates cast their votes
Photo: German chancellors vote in the Bundestag elections (Getty Images)
Today, February 23, Germany is holding elections for the Bundestag. Voter turnout in the early stages of voting has slightly decreased compared to the previous elections in 2021. However, German politicians, including candidates for chancellor Friedrich Merz, Olaf Scholz, and Frank-Walter Steinmeier, have actively participated in the voting, according to Tagesschau.
Christian Democratic Union (CDU) candidate Friedrich Merz cast his vote in his home district in Saarland. Accompanied by his wife, he visited a polling station in Arnsberg and expressed confidence in the election results. According to preliminary data, in the 2021 Bundestag elections, Merz received 40.4% support in his district.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz, along with his wife Britta Ernst, voted in Potsdam, where in 2021, he secured 34% of the votes. After casting his ballot, he raised his thumb, demonstrating his positive assessment of the process.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier also exercised his right to vote in Berlin. He thanked everyone who contributed to organizing the elections and urged citizens to use their voting rights. Steinmeier emphasized the importance of each vote, noting that it could be decisive for the country's future.
According to German media, voter turnout is slightly lower than in the 2021 elections. Specifically in two federal states:
Lower Saxony: Approximately 13.8% of voters had already participated in the Bundestag elections within the first two hours. In the 2021 Bundestag elections, turnout was 14.3%.
Postal votes have not yet been counted. The regional electoral commission has not specified how many more than six million voters have requested mail-in ballots. In 2021, voter turnout in Lower Saxony reached 74.7% by the end of the elections, which was below the national average of 76.4%.
Schleswig-Holstein: As of 11:00 AM, voter turnout was slightly lower than in 2021. Back then, turnout at 11:00 AM was 23.8%, whereas this year, it stands at 21.3%.
Regional election commissioner Tobias Berger stated that since this is only a preliminary count in certain districts, turnout remains almost comparable to 2021.
Election officials have promised to provide official turnout data at 3:00 PM (Kyiv time).
The snap elections in Germany were triggered by the collapse of the ruling coalition between the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), the Green Party (Die Grünen), and the Free Democratic Party (FDP). Disagreements among coalition partners and deteriorating economic conditions led to the dissolution of parliament and the calling of early elections.
These elections are crucial not only for forming Germany's new government but also for determining the country’s future stance on key issues such as the economy, migration policy, and Germany’s role in the European Union.
