Overview of Political Parties for the 2025 Bundestag Election: Which Parties Will Contest in Each Federal State?

The upcoming Bundestag election, scheduled for February 23, 2025, has seen approximately 30 political parties register to compete. However, not all of these parties will appear on the ballots in every federal state. This article outlines the parties that will be contesting in each region, ensuring voters know their options.

Out of the 41 parties initially approved by the Federal Electoral Committee, only 29 have qualified to participate after meeting the necessary requirements for support signatures. This marks a significant decrease from the 47 parties that participated in the previous Bundestag election in 2021.

One key factor influencing the presence of parties on the ballot is the requirement for a state list, which must be approved by the respective electoral committee of each federal state. Smaller parties often lack the resources or support to establish a presence across all regions, leading to variability in the number of parties listed.

In total, the highest number of parties will be represented on the ballots in Berlin and North Rhine-Westphalia, with 18 parties each. Conversely, voters in Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and Saxony-Anhalt will have the fewest options, with only 12 parties listed in each of those states.

The following ten parties will be available on ballots nationwide: the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Greens (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen), the Free Democratic Party (FDP), the Alternative for Germany (AfD), The Left (Die Linke), Free Voters (Freie Wähler), Volt Germany, the Marxist-Leninist Party of Germany (MLPD), Alliance Germany, and BSW. Notably, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) will not appear on the ballot in Bavaria, where its sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), will compete instead. The order of parties on the ballot is determined by their performance in the last election, with alphabetical listings for those that do not have a prior standing.

Here's a detailed breakdown of party representation by federal state:

• Baden-Württemberg: 16 parties
• Bavaria: 17 parties
• Berlin: 18 parties
• Brandenburg: 12 parties
• Bremen: 15 parties
• Hamburg: 13 parties
• Hesse: 14 parties
• Mecklenburg-Vorpommern: 12 parties
• Lower Saxony: 16 parties
• North Rhine-Westphalia: 18 parties
• Rhineland-Palatinate: 14 parties
• Saarland: 13 parties
• Saxony: 15 parties
• Saxony-Anhalt: 12 parties
• Schleswig-Holstein: 13 parties
• Thuringia: 11 parties

In Baden-Württemberg, 16 out of 21 submitted state lists were approved, including parties like the SPD, CDU, Greens, and others. Bavaria will host 17 parties, while Berlin will see a total of 18 parties listed, reflecting a vibrant political landscape in the capital.

Brandenburg will have a total of 12 parties, with key players like SPD and AfD represented. In Bremen, 15 parties will compete, while Hamburg will see 13 parties listed on the ballot.

In Hesse, 14 parties were approved, while Mecklenburg-Vorpommern will feature only 12 parties due to some being unable to gather the required support signatures.

In Lower Saxony, 16 parties will be present, and North Rhine-Westphalia will have the highest number of parties, with 18 competing for voter support. Meanwhile, in Rhineland-Palatinate, voters will choose from 14 options.

Saarland will also have 13 parties, while Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt will each have 15 and 12 parties, respectively. Lastly, Thuringia will present the fewest options for voters, with only 11 parties on the ballot.

This election cycle reflects the evolving political landscape in Germany, with parties adjusting their strategies and presence based on regional dynamics and voter engagement.