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Germany - the Federal Government

Die neue Bundesregierung
© dpa
Friedrich Merz im Bundestag nach der Wahl Governing coalition Election of Chancellor Friedrich Merz is German Chancellor
In a second ballot the Bundestag elects the CDU leader as successor to Olaf Scholz.
Friedrich Merz Federal elections The new Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz: conservative transatlanticist
Who is the new federal chancellor of Germany and what does he stand for politically?
Johann Wadephul New Federal Government
The new Foreign Minister
Johann Wadephul is Germany's Foreign Minister
A North German with plenty of experience in international affairs is now in charge of the Fed-eral Foreign Office.
Minister Federal cabinet
Forming a government
Decision on members of the new government
Prior to the election of Friedrich Merz as Chancellor, the CDU/CSU and SPD have announced their ministers.
Die Spitzen von Union und SPD erläutern den Koalitionsvertrag. Forming a government
Federal Government
The CDU/CSU and SPD coalition treaty: what it contains
The CDU/CSU and the SPD have agreed on their programme for government. An overview of its central points.

2025 Bundestag elections

How German democracy works at the federal level

Das Bundeskanzleramt The Federal Government
Who governs Germany?
The German Federal Government
Federal Chancellor, Cabinet, seat of government – here you can find out how the German government works.
Bundespräsident Steinmeier
Federal President with wide support
Frank-Walter Steinmeier has been voted in for a second 5-year term in office. He enjoys respect across party lines.
Sitzung im Deutschen Bundesrat
Federal Republic of Germany
Germany is a federation. The federation and the 16 Länder (states) each have areas of re-sponsibility of their own.

Quick facts

630 seats in the Bundestag
Parliament currently consists of 735 MPs. In the future, the Bundestag will have a maximum of 630 MPs.
299 constituencies
Constituencies are so divided that there are about the same number of voters in each.
5 per cent
Only parties that have received at least five per cent of the second votes may enter the Bundestag.
59,2 million
German citizens are eligible to vote.
18 years of age
is the minimum required age to vote and to run for office.
82.5 was the percentage
of voter turnout in the 2025 Bundestag elections.

The Basic Law

Deutsche Bundesregierung
The German State
What tasks are the governmental agencies and offices responsible for in Germany and in Europe? Here you will find links to the state, politics and democracy. And you can also contact public authorities and take advantage of services for the citizens.
Das Grundgesetz ist Deutschlands wichtigstes Buch Basic Law
Basic Law
Germany’s most important document
The German Basic Law came into effect in 1949. It was ment to be a provisional constitution. Five questions and answers.
Andreas Voßkuhle war bis 2020 Präsident des Bundesverfassungsgerichts. Basic law
Democracy
Protecting human dignity is at the heart of Germany’s Basic Law
Andreas Voßkuhle, former president of the Constitutional Court, talks about the strengths of the German constitution and the global threats to democracy.