1 / 6Four Candidates Compete for Chancellor: Germany is preparing for a crucial election on Sunday to determine its next leader. Four individuals are in contention for the position, each bringing different political experiences and perspectives. The candidates include the current chancellor, the leader of the main opposition party, the vice chancellor, and for the first time, a candidate from a far-right party. (AP photo)
2 / 6Olaf Scholz Seeks a Second Term: Olaf Scholz, 66, has been serving as Germany’s chancellor since December 2021. He represents the centre-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) and has extensive political experience. Before assuming the chancellorship, he held key governmental roles, including mayor of Hamburg and minister of labour and finance. During his tenure as chancellor, he has faced major challenges, including responding to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. His administration initiated a plan to modernise Germany’s military and significantly increase weapon supplies to Ukraine, making Germany the second-largest supplier. His government also managed to prevent a severe energy crisis and attempted to curb inflation. However, his three-party coalition struggled with internal disputes, particularly over economic policies, leading to its collapse in November. (AP photo)
3 / 6Friedrich Merz Leads the Opposition: Friedrich Merz, 69, is leading the election campaign as the head of the opposition. He is the leader of the centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), having taken over in 2021 after Angela Merkel, a former political rival, stepped down. Under his leadership, the party has shifted towards more conservative policies. His campaign has prominently focused on addressing irregular migration, which he has positioned as a major national concern. Although he has been involved in politics for decades, Merz has never held a government post. He initially served in the European Parliament in 1989 before becoming a member of Germany’s federal legislature in 1994. After 2009, he left active politics for several years to work as a lawyer and served as chairman of the supervisory board for the German division of BlackRock, a global investment management firm. His lack of government experience has been a key topic of discussion in the election. (AP photo)
4 / 6Robert Habeck Represents the Greens: Robert Habeck, 55, is running as the candidate for the environmentalist Green Party. He currently holds the position of vice chancellor and serves as minister for the economy and climate, overseeing crucial energy policies. Habeck played a significant role in boosting the Greens’ popularity while serving as co-leader of the party from 2018 to 2022. However, in the 2021 election, he stepped aside to allow Annalena Baerbock, now the country’s foreign minister, to run for chancellor. His tenure as minister has received mixed reactions. One of his major policy proposals aimed at replacing fossil-fuel heating systems with greener alternatives became a point of contention, highlighting divisions within the coalition government. (AP photo)
5 / 6Alice Weidel Enters the Race: Alice Weidel, 46, is the first candidate from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party to run for the chancellorship. She is an economist who joined the AfD in 2013, shortly after the party’s founding. She has been a leading figure within the party, serving as co-leader of the parliamentary group since the AfD secured representation in the national legislature in 2017. In 2022, she became a co-leader of the party itself, sharing leadership with Tino Chrupalla. In December, she was officially nominated as the AfD’s candidate for chancellor. However, her chances of securing the position remain slim, as other political parties have made it clear that they will not form a coalition with the AfD. (AP photo)
6 / 6Germany Awaits the Election Outcome: The upcoming election will play a decisive role in shaping Germany’s future leadership and policies. The results will determine how the country addresses key issues, including economic growth, migration policies, and international relations. (Shutterstock image)
