BERLIN — Four individuals are vying for Germany’s highest office in Sunday’s election. The contenders include the current chancellor, the opposition leader, the vice chancellor, and, for the first time, a leader from a far-right party.
Olaf Scholz
The 66-year-old has served as Germany’s chancellor since December 2021. This Social Democrat brings extensive governmental experience, having previously held the positions of Hamburg’s mayor, and Germany’s labor and finance minister. His chancellorship has been marked by several unforeseen crises. He spearheaded the modernization of Germany’s military following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, making Germany Ukraine’s second-largest arms supplier. His administration averted an energy crisis and attempted to mitigate high inflation. However, his three-party coalition became known for internal disputes and dissolved in November amidst disagreements on economic revitalization strategies for Europe’s largest economy, which has contracted for the past two years.
Friedrich Merz
At 69, Germany’s opposition leader has emerged as a frontrunner in the election campaign, with his center-right Union bloc leading in polls. He assumed leadership of the Christian Democratic Union party after Angela Merkel’s departure in 2021. Merz has steered his party toward a more conservative stance. His campaign platform prioritizes curbing irregular immigration. Merz’s governmental experience is limited. He joined the European Parliament in 1989 before becoming a German lawmaker five years later. He took a break from politics after 2009, working as a lawyer and heading BlackRock’s German branch’s supervisory board.
Robert Habeck
The 55-year-old represents the environmentalist Greens. He currently serves as Germany’s vice chancellor and minister for economy and climate action, overseeing energy policy. As co-leader of the Greens (2018-2022), he oversaw a surge in the party’s popularity, stepping aside in 2021 to allow Annalena Baerbock to run for chancellor. Habeck’s ministerial performance has received mixed reviews, particularly concerning a plan to replace fossil fuel heating systems with greener alternatives, which exacerbated governmental divisions.
Alice Weidel
The 46-year-old is the first candidate from the far-right, anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) to seek the chancellorship. An economist, Weidel joined the party shortly after its founding in 2013. She has co-led the party’s parliamentary group since 2017 and has been a co-leader of the party itself since 2022 alongside Tino Chrupalla. Her December nomination as chancellor candidate faces significant obstacles; other parties have stated they will not collaborate with the AfD, effectively hindering her prospects.
