Economic-centred German election may also pivot on migration

WITH economic growth proving so elusive in Germany, the final month of the Feb 23, 2025, election campaign had previously been expected to centre around how best to rejuvenate the business landscape. However, recent murderous attacks mean there is now not one but two cross-cutting political meta-narratives in play which could have a significant bearing on the final outcome.

To be sure, polls indicate that right-of-centre Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader Friedrich Merz is very likely to become the next chancellor with the help of sister party Christian Social Union (CSU). But the political oxygen is growing for second placed, far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which has the outspoken support of Tesla CEO Elon Musk with his new political platform in the Trump administration.

The centrepiece of Merz’s campaign is an economic reform policy platform called “Agenda 2030”. This has a historical echo to former chancellor Gerhard Schroder’s “Agenda 2010”, almost a quarter of a century ago.