Germany Votes 2025 – Volume 6 – No Confidence, All Campaign: The Election Begins
Download a PDF of this articleWelcome to the 6th Volume of Germany Votes 2025!
As expected, Chancellor Scholz (SPD) has lost the vote of no confidence, marking the unofficial start of the election campaign. The increasingly sharp tone between parties reflects the political battle ahead. In this edition, we break down the vote of confidence and the key milestones to watch. We also dive into a topic set to dominate debates on improving Germany's appeal as a business location: social contributions and income taxes. Enjoy the read, have a wonderful holiday season, and we’ll see you back in the second week of January 2025!
As expected, Chancellor Scholz (SPD) has lost the vote of no confidence, marking the unofficial start of the election campaign. The increasingly sharp tone between parties reflects the political battle ahead. In this edition, we break down the vote of confidence and the key milestones to watch. We also dive into a topic set to dominate debates on improving Germany's appeal as a business location: social contributions and income taxes. Enjoy the read, have a wonderful holiday season, and we’ll see you back in the second week of January 2025!
Caroline Mücke-Kemp
Head of Public & Government Affairs Germany
In a nutshell:
- Chancellor Olaf Scholz loses the vote of confidence: This clears the way for elections on 23 February 2025, pending the Federal President’s formal dissolution of the Bundestag. Parties are already in campaign mode, marked by sharp personal attacks in recent Bundestag speeches. The intense phase begins on 6 January 2025.
- Major democratic parties publish election programs: On 17 December 2024, SPD, CDU/CSU, Greens and FDP published their campaign programs, focusing on the economy, social policy and migration as the top three issues.
- Election outlook: Current polling indicates a high likelihood of a CDU/CSU-led coalition with the SPD, potentially marking the end of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s political career after the election.
- The true cost of German labor: Germany’s high social contributions and income taxes weaken its competitiveness in the global business arena.
Days left until German Federal Election on 23 February 2025
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'The end of the coalition government is not the end of the world.'
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