Political Alignment of the Federal Government

Germany is a democratic federal state where elections Elections Every four years, the parties stand in the general elections to the Bundestag. Traditionally, the turn-out is high in Germany, and following a high in the 1970s, when the turn-out was over 90 percent, since reunification it has been around 80 percent. 76.6 per cent of eligible voters took part… Read more › at national and state levels often cause changes in government. The Bundestag The Bundestag The Bundestag is made up of the elected representatives of the German people. In principle elections to the Bundestag are proportionally representative, with each party’s share of the vote in the election reflecting the number of seats it occupies in the parliament. But the electoral system also… Read more › elections of September 2021 resulted in a coalition between the SPD, Greens and FDP led by Federal Chancellor Federal chancellor The Federal Chancellor is the only member of the Federal Government to be elected. The constitution empowers him to personally choose his ministers, who head the most important political authorities. Moreover it is the Chancellor who determines the number of ministries and their responsibilities… Read more › Olaf Scholz. This replaced the previous CDU/CSU and SPD coalition led by Chancellor Angela Merkel.

On 8 December 2021, the SPD politician Olaf Scholz was elected by the German Bundestag to serve as the ninth Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany. He succeeded Angela Merkel of the CDU, who had governed Germany for 16 years. The government that has held office since then is formed of three parties: the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), Alliance 90/The Greens, and the Free Democratic Party (FDP). Robert Habeck is Vice Chancellor and also serves as Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action. Annalena Baerbock is the Foreign Minister. Habeck and Baerbock are both members of the Alliance 90/The Greens parliamentary group. Christian Lindner of the FDP is the Fed­eral Finance Minister. The Federal Cabinet consists of 15 ministers and the Head of the Chancellery.

The three governing parties hold 416 of the 733 seats in the German Bundestag. The opposition in the Bundestag The Bundestag The Bundestag is made up of the elected representatives of the German people. In principle elections to the Bundestag are proportionally representative, with each party’s share of the vote in the election reflecting the number of seats it occupies in the parliament. But the electoral system also… Read more › is formed by the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Christian Social Union (CSU) from Bavaria Bavaria The “beer state” of Bavaria also produces fine wine in the Franconia region. The Oktoberfest, Neuschwanstein Castle and the magnificent Alpine scenery attract more foreign tourists than does any other federal state. Yet the slogan “Laptop and Lederhose” demonstrates that there is more to Bavaria… Read more › , which join forces as the Union, along with the Alternative for Germany (AfD), the Left and the Alliance Sahra Wagenknecht, which was formed in January 2024 and comprises former Left MPs.

A three-way coalition of the SPD, Alliance 90/The Greens and the FDP is a first for Germany, as previous governments had almost always been two-party alliances. The Union and the SPD formed the government until the handover of power in 2021.

The coalition agreement forms the basis for how the governing parties work together. The SPD, Alliance 90/The Greens and the FDP signed the agreement before electing Scholz as Federal Chancellor Federal chancellor The Federal Chancellor is the only member of the Federal Government to be elected. The constitution empowers him to personally choose his ministers, who head the most important political authorities. Moreover it is the Chancellor who determines the number of ministries and their responsibilities… Read more › . Under the headline “Daring to make progress – alliance for freedom, justice and sustainability”, the agreement outlines the key priorities for the Federal Government Federal Government The Federal Government and cabinet is made up of the Federal Chancellor and the Federal Ministers. While the Chancellor holds the power to issue directives, the ministers have departmental powers, meaning that they independently run their respective ministries in the framework of those directives… Read more › in the four years of this parliamentary legislative period. The next Bundestag elections Elections Every four years, the parties stand in the general elections to the Bundestag. Traditionally, the turn-out is high in Germany, and following a high in the 1970s, when the turn-out was over 90 percent, since reunification it has been around 80 percent. 76.6 per cent of eligible voters took part… Read more › are scheduled for Autumn 2025.

One key policy area for the Federal Government Federal Government The Federal Government and cabinet is made up of the Federal Chancellor and the Federal Ministers. While the Chancellor holds the power to issue directives, the ministers have departmental powers, meaning that they independently run their respective ministries in the framework of those directives… Read more › concerns transforming Germany’s industry and economy to make the country climate-neutral by 2045. In his first government statement, Federal Chancellor Federal chancellor The Federal Chancellor is the only member of the Federal Government to be elected. The constitution empowers him to personally choose his ministers, who head the most important political authorities. Moreover it is the Chancellor who determines the number of ministries and their responsibilities… Read more › Scholz described the “greatest transformation of our industry and economy for at least 100 years.” Specifically the government is undertaking a swift and comprehensive energy transformation. According to the coalition agreement, 80% of Germany’s electricity will come from renewable sources by 2030.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, which was in violation of international law, was described by Federal Chancellor Federal chancellor The Federal Chancellor is the only member of the Federal Government to be elected. The constitution empowers him to personally choose his ministers, who head the most important political authorities. Moreover it is the Chancellor who determines the number of ministries and their responsibilities… Read more › Scholz as an “epochal turning point” (Zeitenwende) for Europe, as well as for German policy. One of the things he announced shortly after the invasion was a special fund of 100 billion euros to strengthen Germany’s armed forces, the Bundeswehr. Germany is one of Ukraine’s most important allies and, after the US, is the second-largest donor country when it comes to humanitarian assistance, direct payments and weapons. More than a million refugees, above all women and children, have found a safe haven in Germany.

Germany wants to become even more attractive to skilled professionals from abroad. To make it easier for them to access the German labour market, the German government has implemented amendments in several steps to the Skilled Immigration Immigration As early as the 19th century Germany attracted a large number of immigrants and since the 1950s has emerged as the European country with the largest immigrant population. In 1950, there were about 500,000 foreigners in Germany, accounting for a mere one percent or so of the population. This has… Read more › Act, which has been in force since 2020. Since around mid-2024, for example, the new “Opportunity Card” has enabled skilled professionals from countries outside the European Union European Union In 1957, Germany was one of the six founding members of today’s EU, along with France, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. The EU is currently made up of 27 states; the euro is the official currency in 20 of them. For Germany, European integration forms the basis for peace, security and… Read more › to enter Germany without laborious recognition procedures, provided they meet certain criteria, to search for a suitable job.

A modern immigration Immigration As early as the 19th century Germany attracted a large number of immigrants and since the 1950s has emerged as the European country with the largest immigrant population. In 1950, there were about 500,000 foreigners in Germany, accounting for a mere one percent or so of the population. This has… Read more › law is likewise helping make Germany more attractive for skilled professionals. This means that migrants who live permanently in Germany can obtain a German passport more quickly than before. A reform now makes it possible in principle for people to keep their citizenship of another country in additional to German citizenship.