Germany - the Federal Government

Friedrich Merz im Bundestag nach der Wahl

Governing coalition Election of Chancellor Friedrich Merz is German Chancellor

Friedrich Merz

Federal elections The new Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz: conservative transatlanticist

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

Friedrich Merz, CDU, wird die nächste Bundesregierung anführen.

Federal elections

Election result

CDU/CSU wins the Bundestag elections

CDU and CSU win the Bundestag elections. SPD sees heavy losses. AfD doubles its result. The Left remains in parliament, FDP and BSW are out.

How German democracy works at the federal level

Briefwähler können auch in bestimmten Wahllokalen vorab wählen.

Bundestag election

The five principles which govern elections in Germany

Germany’s constitution requires that elections must be general, direct, free, equal and secret.

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

Germany’s most important book

The German Basic Law came into effect in 1949. It was originally designed as a provisional constitution. Five questions and answers.

Andreas Voßkuhle war bis 2020 Präsident des Bundesverfassungsgerichts.

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.

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