Germany braces for pivotal elections as parties wrap up campaigns

Final preparations were underway on Saturday ahead of Germany’s snap federal elections. Press members were setting up studios at political party headquarters in Berlin to prepare their coverage of what experts and candidates believe will be the most attention grabbing vote in recent decades.

Four candidates are competing for the top chancellor job, incumbent Olaf Scholz of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), Friedrich Merz of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Robert Habeck of the Greens party and far-right Alice Weidel of the Alternative for Germany (AfD).

According to the most recent polls, the CDU is expected to win the election as they lead the race with a projection of about 30% support. They're followed by the AfD who've made a dramatic comeback in the German political scene and are projected to win around 20%.

The SPD and Greens party are trailing, with Scholz projected to secure around 16% of the vote and current Vice Chancellor Habeck at around 13%.

Campaigning continued on Saturday as candidates competing for the top chancellor job look to sway undecided voters in their favour.

Olaf Scholz’s SPD held a rally in the city of Potsdam where he addressed supporters and expressed opinions on key contentious issues.

US President Donald Trump has been a major point of focus this election as his controversial foreign policy threatens to alienate Europe from the global stage and break down the ruled-based international system.

Germany plays a big role in shaping the European Union’s response to the threat across the Atlantic, and German voters are want to ensure their country and continental security and status are not diminished.

“We need a strong European Union, otherwise we will not be able to cope with many new powers in a