Federal Republic of Germany: Parliament, 24 September 2017

At stake in this election:

• A minimum of 598 seats in the lower house of the German Parliament (Bundestag)
• Overhang seats could lead to a greater number

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Frank-Walter STEINMEIER (since 19 March 2017)
• Head of Government: Chancellor Angela MERKEL (since 22 November 2005)
• Assembly: Bicameral Parliament (Parlament) consisting of a Federal Council (Bundesrat) with 69 seats and a Federal Diet (Bundestag) with 598 seats or more

Description of electoral system:

• The President is elected to a 5-year term by a Federal Convention.
• The Chancellor is elected to a 4-year term by an absolute majority of the Federal Parliament.
• The Federal Diet (Bundestag) is elected through a two-part vote. Half of the members are directly elected in single seat constituencies. The other half are elected in multi-seat constituencies through a proportional representation vote. The number of seats in the Federal Diet can vary each election cycle to maintain the proportional representation of each party. All members serve 4-year terms.

Last Election:

• The last election for the Federal Diet (Bundestag) was held on September 22, 2013. The Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union won the largest share of votes and obtained 309 seats. Angela MERKEL was reelected Chancellor.

Main candidates in the election:

• Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union / Christlich Demokratische Union
  • Leader: Angela MERKEL
  • Seats won in last election: 309
• Social Democratic Party / Sozialdemokratische Partei
  • Leader: Martin SCHULZ
  • Seats won in last election: 193
• The Left Party / Die Linke
  • Leader: Katja KIPPING and Bernd RIEXINGER
  • Seats won in last election: 64
• Alliance ‘90/The Greens Party / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen
  • Leader: Cem OEZDEMIR and Simone PETER
  • Seats won in last election: 63
• Free Democratic Party / Freie Demokratische Partei
  • Leader: Christian LINDNER
  • Seats won in last election: 0
• Alternative for Germany / Alternative für Deutschland
  • Leader: Frauke PETRY and Joerg MEUTHEN
  • Seats won in last election: 0

Population and number of registered voters:

• Population: 82,000,000 (2017 est.)
• Registered Voters: 61,500,000 (2017 est.)

Gender Data:

• Female Population: 40,976,036 (2016)
• Is Germany a signatory to CEDAW:  Yes (17 July 1980)
• Has Germany ratified CEDAW: Yes (10 July 1985)
• Gender Quota: No
• Female candidates in this election: Yes
• Number of Female Parliamentarians: 234
• Human Development Index Position: 4
• Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: N/A

Disability Data:

• Is Germany a signatory to CRPD: Yes (30 March 2007)
• Has Germany ratified CRPD: Yes (24 February 2009)
• Population with a disability: 12,128,161