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Germany in the Electoral Campaign to the Early Elections on February 23 - The Challenges of a high-risk Voting

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One month before the early Federal Elections in Germany, which will take place on February 23, 2025, after the "Traffic light coalition" imploded on November 6, 2024, the political landscape in Germany appears to be relatively stable despite the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).

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Berlin, Germany - January 8, 2025 - Banner at CDU headquarters on early Bundestag 2025 elections showing party leader and front-runner Friedrich Merz
Berlin, Germany - January 8, 2025 - Banner at CDU Headquarters on early Bundestag 2025 Elections Showing party leader and Front-Runner Friedrich Merz - © Achim Wagner
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The new government that emerges from the elections will have to deal with rethinking the crisis-ridden German economic model, against a backdrop that is being disrupted by the election of Donald Trump in the US. What are the prospects for Europe and Franco-German relations?

Paul Maurice is Secretary General of The Study Committee on Franco-German Relations (Cerfa) at Ifri, where he focuses on German domestic policy, Franco-German relations within the European Union, and German foreign and security policy.


This publication is available in French (pdf): "L’Allemagne en campagne pour les élections anticipées du 23 février - Enjeux d’un scrutin à risque

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Paul MAURICE

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The Pariser Platz (Paris Square) on the east side of the Brandenburg Gate at Berlin, Germany
The Study Committee on Franco-German Relations (Cerfa)
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The Study Committee on Franco-German Relations (Cerfa) was created in 1954 by an inter-governmental agreement between the Federal Republic of Germany and France, in order to raise awareness of Germany in France and analyze Franco-German relations, including in their European and international dimensions. In its conferences and seminars, which bring together experts, political leaders, senior decision-makers and representatives of civil society from both countries, Cerfa develops the Franco-German debate and stimulates political proposals. It regularly publishes studies through two collections: Cerfa notes and studies as well as Franco-German visions.

 

Cerfa maintains close relations with the network of German foundations and think tanks. In addition to its research and debate activities, Cerfa promotes the emergence of a new Franco-German generation through original cooperation programs. This is how in 2021-2022, Cerfa led a program on multilateralism with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Paris. This program is aimed at young professionals from both countries interested in the issues of multilateralism in the context of their activities. It covered a wide range of themes relating to multilateralism, such as international trade, health, human rights and migration, non-proliferation and disarmament. Previously, Cerfa had participated in the Franco-German future dialogue, co-led with the DGAP from 2007 to 2020, and supported by the Robert Bosch Foundation and the Daniel Vernet group (formerly the Franco-German Reflection Group) which was founded in 2014 upon the initiative of the Genshagen Foundation.

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The 2026 State Elections in Baden-Württemberg: First Test For Chancellor Merz's Federal Government?

Date de publication
02 March 2026
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The state election in Baden-Wuerttemberg in March 2026 will be the first major test of public opinion for Chancellor Friedrich Merz's federal government. At the same time, Baden-Wuerttemberg is one of the federal states that—as an important location for the German automotive industry and its suppliers—is particularly affected by the transformation policy driven by climate change and the international conflict constellation.

Marc DEBUS
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Bundeswehr: From Zeitenwende (historic turning point) to Epochenbruch (epochal shift)

Date de publication
25 February 2026
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The Zeitenwende (historic turning point) announced by Olaf Scholz on February 27, 2022, is shifting into high gear. Financially supported by the March 2025 reform of Germany’s “debt break” and backed by a broad political and societal consensus to strengthen and modernize the Bundeswehr, Germany's military capabilities are set to rapidly increase over the coming years. Expected to assume a central role in the defense of the European continent in the context of changing transatlantic relations, Berlin’s military-political position on the continent is being radically transformed. 

Johanna MÖHRING
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Merz’ European Policy-making: The End of the ‘German Vote’?

Date de publication
21 January 2026
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Friedrich Merz’s European ambition is to turn Germany, long seen as hesitant into a leading actor within the European Union (EU). To that end, he has pledged to end the “German vote,” a phenomenon that epitomizes the paradox of a country both indispensable and frequently absent from European decision-making. 

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Marie Krpata

Securing critical raw material (CRM) value chains – a prerequisite for Europe’s technological resilience

Date de publication
22 October 2025
Accroche

At the heart of economic security, technological resilience is a backbone of the European Union’s (EU) competitiveness. The EU’s energy and digital transitions depend on critical raw materials (CRM).

Marie KRPATA Stefan STEINICKE
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Berlin, Germany - January 8, 2025 - Banner at CDU Headquarters on early Bundestag 2025 Elections Showing party leader and Front-Runner Friedrich Merz - © Achim Wagner
Shutterstock.com

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