Germany May Face Long Wait for New Government after Feb 23 Vote

German voters head to the polls in a winter election on Feb 23 but may not have a new government for some time.

Arduous coalition negotiations tend to drag on for weeks if not months in Germany, spelling long stretches of political paralysis before a new chancellor takes charge.

The confident poll front-runner Friedrich Merz has said he is aiming for an Easter deadline – April 20 – for a deal and urged potential allies to get ready for speedy talks.

“If we spend weeks, possibly months... then the period in which this country is without a majority capable of governing will be too long for me,” he said in a recent Politico interview.