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1 1 (September 20, 2021)

handle is hein.crs/goveenq0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional ____ *aResearch Service Germany's September 26 Elections September 20, 2021 End of the Merkel Era Germany's political landscape is in transition ahead of September 26, 2021, parliamentary elections that are to mark the end of Chancellor Angela Merkel's 16-year tenure. As the leader of the European Union's (EU's) most populous country and largest economy, Merkel has been a key interlocutor for the United States. Merkel's likely successors have pledged continuity in German foreign policy, but the end of the Merkel era-and her legacy of global leadership-could have important implications for U. S. -German and U.S.-European relations. Areas of particular concern for Congress could include Germany's policy toward Russia, China, and NATO. Merkel's tenure has been viewed as a period of remarkable stability and economic prosperity in Germany. Analysts cite Merkel's pragmatism and centrist politics as key factors behind her political success. Germany's broader political landscape arguably has become more fractured during her time in office as the country's two main political parties-Merkel's center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its current governing coalition partner, the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD)-have lost support to smaller parties on both sides of the political spectrum. Possible Election Outcomes and Main Political Parties On September 26, voters will elect representatives to Germany's lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, which in turn elects the head of government, or chancellor. Political parties that surpass a 5% vote threshold gain representation in parliament. Germany's multiparty system leads to governing coalitions; only once since 1949 has a single party won the absolute majority necessary to elect a chancellor and legislate on its own. Recent polls suggest the next government could be the first coalition of more than two parties since 1957. The SPD and CDU are projected to win the most votes, though neither is expected to exceed 30%. Most analysts expect the smaller Green party and/or Free Democratic Party (FDP) to be potential kingmakers in a governing coalition with either or both the CDU and SPD. As of September 16, 2021, opinion polls forecast the following results: Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov IN11755 CRS INSIGHT Prepared for Membersand Committeesof Congress

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