Germany has set the date for the next federal election: people will go to the polls on Sunday, September 28, 2025, to choose the next federal government. The decision just needs to be formally confirmed by the German president. 

Next German federal election likely to be on September 28, 2025

The next federal election is scheduled to take place in the autumn of next year, after the federal government issued a recommendation to Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. According to federal law, an election must take place on a Sunday or public holiday, and may take place no earlier than 46 months and no later than 48 months after the start of the current electoral term. 

Since the current Bundestag was elected on September 26, 2021, that means that the next election date must be somewhere between August 27 and October 26, 2025. The date has been debated quite a bit in recent weeks, especially since originally the Berlin Marathon was scheduled to take place on September 28, 2025.

At the last federal election, which also coincided with the sporting event, numerous road closures exacerbated problems in many polling stations, with long queues forming and some people being forced to cast their votes after 6pm, when polling officially closed. The problems eventually led to votes in Berlin being recast. 

Olaf Scholz announces intention to run for re-election

At a recent press conference, Chancellor Olaf Scholz of the SPD confirmed his intention to run for re-election. “I will run as chancellor to become chancellor again,” he said. 

Although the CDU / CSU and Greens have not yet officially decided on a candidate for chancellor, it seems likely that CDU leader Friedrich Merz and Green Economics Minster Robert Habeck will be leading their respective charges.