Federal elections in Germany

Federal elections in Germany (German: Bundestagswahl) determine the members of the German Bundestag (MdB). According to Article 39 of the Basic Law, it generally takes place every four years, on a sunday between 46 and 48 months after a new Bundestag had assembled; However, the electoral period may be shortened in the event of the dissolution of the Bundestag (Articles 63 and 68 of the Basic Law, invoked four times) or extended in the event of a state of defence (Article 115h of the Basic Law). The date of a Bundestag election is set by the Federal President in consultation with the Federal Government and the 16 states. These elections are significant for the federal level, thus also for the election of a president every five years.

The Bundestag electoral law, which is laid down in the Federal Election Act, is based on the principle of personalized proportional representation with a five percent threshold. Both winners of the 299 federal constituencies, and at least 299 candidates from party lists in 16 states may win a seat, which would result in 598 seats when a strong Two-party system is in effect. With additional parties shifting proportions, the number of members of parliament had varied significantly and was rather unpredictable. Reunited Germany in 1990 started with 662 seats, then dropped to 603 in 2002. With the two-party system eroding to a multi party system, the number of seats grew to 736 in 2021 as 18.6% won and lost a constituency. The number of seats then was fixed to 630 at the expense of the least successful constituency winners, with 23 getting left out in 2025, and only 276 becoming MdB this way. The 21st Bundestag elected in 2025 is the first to have 630 members, the majority having been pre-selected by their parties, some MdB not standing in any constituency, and some constituencies not represented at all.

The 23 February 2025 German federal election was a snap election, the Next German federal election is expected to be held no later than between January and March 2029.

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