Published date: May 9, 2017 06:39 CET UTC +02:00
Edited: May 9, 2017 06:44 CET UTC +02:00
It is just approximately five months until the German federal elections of 2017 occur. They are scheduled for September 24 this year.
The election, held every four years, is to elect the members of the Bundestag, the federal parliament of Germany.
Voters have two votes, one for a candidate (a constituency representative) and one for the party.
Angela Merkel, the Chancellor of Germany, is an announced candidate for the 2017 federal election, and is party leader of the CDU/CSU. She has been the leader of this party since the year 2000 (10 April 2000).
The major parties participating in the 2017 election are: The CDU (Christian Democratic Union), the SPD (Social Democratic Party), The Left, the Alliance '90/ The Greens, the Christian Social Union (CSU), the FDP (Free Democratic Party), and the AfD (Alternative for Germany).
By Katrina Wood