Germany Votes 2025 – Volume 3: Zeitenwende (Turning point): Closing Germany‘s defense capabilities gap
Download a PDF of this articleWelcome to the 3rd Volume of Germany Votes 2025!.
More than 1,000 days after Russia invaded Ukraine, the Zeitenwende — a turning point in defense policy tied to a €100 million special funding program for the German Armed Forces — remains unfinished. Modernizing the Bundeswehr, funding NATO’s 2% target, balancing geopolitical challenges with the energy transition have seen slow progress. With a looming Trump presidency reigniting debates on European security, we explore how Germany’s political parties aim to tackle these challenges and what the next government might do to overcome Germany’s lack of hard power.
More than 1,000 days after Russia invaded Ukraine, the Zeitenwende — a turning point in defense policy tied to a €100 million special funding program for the German Armed Forces — remains unfinished. Modernizing the Bundeswehr, funding NATO’s 2% target, balancing geopolitical challenges with the energy transition have seen slow progress. With a looming Trump presidency reigniting debates on European security, we explore how Germany’s political parties aim to tackle these challenges and what the next government might do to overcome Germany’s lack of hard power.
Caroline Mücke-Kemp
Head of Public & Government Affairs Germany
In a nutshell:
- Chancellor Olaf Scholz confirmed as SPD Chancellor Candidate: The decision ends weeks of speculations that popular Defense Minister Boris Pistorius might replace Scholz as the party’s lead candidate. The long-drawn-out decision leaves both the party and Scholz weakened.
- Operation ‘Silver Foxes’ to save The Left party: To win the three direct mandates needed for The Left Party to reenter the Bundestag in the 2025 election it was announced that three popular party veterans will rerun for office. Should the party fail to qualify for the Bundestag, it risks drifting into political irrelevance.
- Merkel memoir ‘Freedom’ published: The former Chancellor’s autobiography reignites the discussion around her legacy issues such as energy security, migration and Germany’s relationship
with Russia.
Days left until German Federal Election on 23 February 2025, as of 27 November 2024.
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The most popular candidate is not automatically the best.
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