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7 NEWS maltatoday | SUNDAY • 23 FEBRUARY 2025 major test for EU democracy in Trump era SPD – Social Democrats/Centre-Left Leader: Olaf Scholz The SPD is not only Germany's oldest political party but also the most influen- tial social democratic party in Europe. After a decade of decline, it saw a re- surgence in 2021, enabling Olaf Scholz to become Chancellor at the head of an unstable 'traffic-light' coalition. The party is firmly committed to supporting Ukraine and European integration but advocates reforming the debt brake to allow more spending on defence and climate initiatives. CDU/CSU – Christian Democrats/Centre- Right Leader: Friedrich Merz The CDU, along with its Bavarian sis- ter party, the CSU, has been at the helm of most German governments since the end of the Second World War. Under Angela Merkel, the party shifted to- wards the centre and opened Germany to an influx of Syrian migrants. How- ever, under Merz—a corporate lawyer advocating lower government spending and a tougher stance on migration—the party has taken a rightward turn. The CDU remains committed to Ukraine and EU integration. Die Grünen – Greens/Centre-Left Leader: Robert Habeck The Greens, originally founded in the 1980s as a left-wing movement focused on anti-nuclear and feminist causes, have become much more mainstream in the past two decades. They are strong advocates of EU integration and are un- wavering supporters of Ukraine. While their climate policies have faced back- lash, their support has remained stable at around 14%. Alternative für Deutschland – Far-Right Nationalists Leader: Alice Weidel The Alternative for Germany (AfD) was founded in 2013 as a Eurosceptic party but has since shifted to the far right. The party opposes immigration and European integration and has even been rejected by other right-wing Eu- ropean leaders, such as Giorgia Meloni and Marine Le Pen. It belongs to the most extreme European grouping, the Europe of Sovereign Nations (ESN). Nonetheless, Elon Musk's open support has given it a degree of legitimacy. Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance – Conservative Left Leader: Sahra Wagenknecht BSW is centred around Sahra Wagen- knecht, a former leader of Die Linke, who has attracted voters who are eco- nomically left-wing but oppose immi- gration and hold culturally conservative views. She also opposes military aid to Ukraine. Freie Demokratische Partei – Pro- Business Liberals Leader: Christian Lindner The Free Democratic Party (FDP) is less culturally conservative than the CDU and more economically lais- sez-faire than the SPD and Greens. However, following the collapse of the traffic-light coalition in which its lead- er Christian Lindner served as Finance Minister, the party is now struggling to surpass the 5% threshold. Die Linke – Progressive Left Leader: Heidi Reichinnek Originally founded by former East German communists and disillusioned Social Democrats, Die Linke has re- invented itself after losing ground to BSW. It is now appealing to progres- sive voters by opposing deportations, advocating rental caps, proposing a solidarity pension funded by taxation, and calling for higher taxes on the very wealthy. THE CONTENDERS