With worries about the economic situation, migration, and growing uncertainty over the future of Ukraine and Europe's alliance with the US, Germans are going to polls on Sunday.
Though the centre-right opposition is favoured to win, the polls suggest that a far-right party is likely to emerge victorious.
Germany's election is significant as the country is a leading NATO member and has been Ukraine's second biggest weapon supplier after the US.
The top candidates in the race are conservative front-runner Friedrich Merz and current Chancellor Olaf Scholz of the Social Democrats.
Though absolute majorities are difficult to attain given Germany's electoral system, it is expected that this time two or more parties will form a coalition. The process of forming the coalition is also a time-consuming one.
The election is taking place after Scholz's coalition collapsed in November.
Who would be the next German Chancellor?
The poll surveys had given the edge to centre-right opposition leader Friedrich Merz's Union bloc. Surveys revealed 28-32 per cent support for the Union bloc, while it was between 14-16 per cent for Scholz's Social Democrats.
The far-right, anti-immigration Alternative for Germany, or AfD, has been running in second place with around 20 per cent of the vote.
Merz vowed stability instead of chaos after Scholz's three-party coalition collapsed following internal clashes and an economic crisis.
However, it is unclear whether Merz will be able to form a stable government if he wins. Merz hopes for a two-party coalition but may end up needing another partner to form the government. In that case, he will have to rely on Social Democrats' support.
What are the main issues faced by Germany?
In the past two years, Germany's economy has not managed any real growth. Tackling the economic crisis is going to be the main task in front of the new government.
Migration has been another issue with deadly attacks committed by immigrants. Merz stressed that those illegally entering the country will be deported if he is elected. He then brought a nonbinding motion calling for many more migrants to be turned back at Germany's borders.
Also, mainstream parties have vowed to keep up support for Ukraine in its war against Russia. Scholz's government has spent 2 per cent of GDP on defence, the challenge for the next administration is to keep up with it and likely expand it.
