Bundestag election 2025: Election campaign final: Scholz and Merz advertise for undecided

Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and Union Chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz (CDU) advertise undecided voters shortly before the Bundestag election. “I don’t believe in miracles, but in an election victory,” said Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) in his hometown Potsdam. “I am convinced that this time it will be the case that many only choose in the polling station.” Merz was also confident of victory. “There are almost 26 hours. Then the traffic light is finally history in Germany,” he called at the Union election campaign in the afternoon in Munich.

Scholz said that he was concerned that many of the SPD would give both voices “so that we are strong enough and so that the government can continue under my leadership”. In surveys, the SPD has always been clearly behind the Union and the AfD in recent months. Surveys show that around a fifth of the voters were still undecided whether and who they voted. Around 59 million people are entitled to vote on Sunday.

Scholz was optimistic about success in his constituency in Potsdam. “I am quite sure that the constituency can be won again by me-just like last time,” he told the German Press Agency. “The mood is afterwards.” As a direct candidate in Potsdam, the Chancellor competes against Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens). In the morning he attended a campaign stand in the city center and spoke to citizens – however, interest was rather low.

If Scholz wins the direct mandate in Potsdam, he wants to remain the entire legislative period in the Bundestag – even if he does not become a chancellor again. “That has been certain forever,” said Scholz when it comes to a question of journalists.

Merz draws red lines for coalition negotiations

CDU boss Merz again moved red lines for possible coalition negotiations at the end of the campaign with CSU boss Markus Söder in Munich. The Union will not go to a coalition with anyone “who is not willing to bring about the change of policy in economic policy and migration policy in Germany”. He underlined that he will not conduct coalition talks with the AfD: “Under no circumstances, under no circumstances, we will discuss any conversations, let alone negotiations or even government participations with the AfD. This is out of the question.”

Merz is happy about “daily visa” for Bavaria

Merz thanked Söder for the cooperation in the opposition years and added slightly smugly: “I thank you not only for the good cooperation, but also for the warm welcome to Bavaria at any time. Thanks again today for the daily visa. It is always nice here, here to be.”

Söder demonstratively behind Merz – and against black -green

Despite the most recently poor survey values ​​for the Union, Söder Merz demonstratively strengthened the back. Merz was a man with a backbone that he had complied with all the commitments he gave to the CSU. The CSU boss cited the migration question as an example. Söder repeated his categorical rejection of a coalition with the Greens. “Friedrich, you don’t have to do anything. I’m already doing it. So don’t worry,” he emphasized. Merz keeps the option of collaboration with the Greens open.

CSU boss to Lindner: The time is over

Söder also gave the FDP a cancellation: “If we rule, we need few partners and not an infinite number of,” he said. “Sorry, dear Christian Lindner. The time is over,” added Söder to the address of the FDP boss. In the surveys, the FDP is between four and five percent. She has to tremble whether she comes back to the Bundestag. Once from Söder’s speech, the worry flashed out of a bad election result: “Tomorrow at the time we will get the first indications of the surveys, I hope that our mood is still good,” he said.

TV-speed dating for the election campaign graduation

Even in the evening, advertising continues to vote. In a “speed dating” of the broadcaster ProSieben and Sat.1, citizens can ask the candidate for chancellor. In addition to Scholz, Greens candidate Robert Habeck and AfD candidate Alice Weidel are present. Merz was apologized for schedule.

Surveys see Union at the top – but sometimes below 30 percent

According to election surveys, the Union is significantly strongest power. But some institutes most recently saw them below the important brand of 30 percent.

In a survey published on Saturday of the opinion research institute Insa on behalf of the “Bild” newspaper, CDU/CSU come to 29.5 percent. This is half a percentage point less than in the previous survey. AfD and SPD remain at 21 and 15 percent. The Greens slide slightly to 12.5 percent (-0.5). The left increases by half a percentage point to 7.5 percent.

The FDP and the Sahra Wagenknecht alliance (BSW) must continue to tremble. The FDP gains slightly to 4.5 percent (+0.5), but remains below the five percent hurdle. The BSW would be represented in the Bundestag with consistently 5 percent. However, election surveys are generally affected with uncertainties and no forecasts for the election outcome.

Demonstrations in several cities

In several cities, thousands of people for democracy and to the right took to the streets before the election. In Freiburg, for example, 20,000 to 25,000 people protested against right -wing extremism according to police. An alliance of over 50 organizations had called for the demonstration.

In Hamburg, the police initially did not want to give any specific number of participants. However, it became clear that they were lower than the 65,000 participants previously expected, who were under the motto “We do not let ourselves be split: Hamburg chooses cohesion”. Several hundred people opposed a neo-Nazi march in Berlin-Mitte.