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Elections 2005

Germans headed to the polls on Sunday, September 18, one-year earlier than planned, to elect a new parliament, which now lead to a decision on who will be Chancellor. The early elections were prompted by a series of defeats for Chancellor Schröder's Social Democrats in state elections, capped off by the loss in North Rhine-Westphalia in May. Chancellor Schröder lost a parliamentary vote of confidence in July and thereby gained support for his plan to call for early elections, which was subsequently backed by Federal President Köhler and upheld by the Federal Constitutional Court.

InFocus offers you an overview of the candidates and parties, the complex road to early elections, and a look back at the short but intense national campaign that has occupied Germans this summer.

Election Results Leave No Party With Majority

Official Results

The Federal Returning Officer has released official results from the September 18 election.

Political Parties and Candidates

In Germany, political parties enjoy a high status and play a significant role in government and society. Political parties form coalitions to build a governing majority. The current coalition is the SPD and Alliance 90 / The Greens, and it remains to be seen whether these elections will bring about a new coalition. Learn the basics about the major political parties, including the new Left Party, and their candidates.

From Vote of Confidence to Early Elections

With his unexpected announcement that he would seek early elections, Chancellor Schröder set in motion a complex constitutional mechanism in order to have Germans go to the polls this fall. There is no provision in the German constitution specifically aimed at changing the electoral schedule.

Campaign Overview and News

Trace the election coverage in "The Week in Germany," the German Information Center's weekly email newsletter.

The Federal System

The Federal Republic of Germany is a parliamentary democracy. Its parliament consists of two chambers, the Bundestag (legislature) and the Bundesrat (assembly of federal states). Voters elect the members of the Bundestag, which in turn elects the head of government, the Chancellor. The Bundesrat is composed of delegates of the state governments. This section gives an overview of the federal system - its leaders, organization, government, cabinet and the voters.