Migration Policy in the 2025 Election Programs of German Parties

Abstract

Migration, which is an important element of Germany’s domestic and foreign policy, has been and continues to be a source of much emotion and political and social controversy. Among other things, it has led to a significant increase in support for the Alternative for Germany party.
This article provides an overview of the main slogans and concepts concerning selected aspects of migration policy contained in the election programs of seven German political parties prepared in connection with the early elections to the Bundestag, which took place on February 23, 2025. The analysis of the content of the election programs was primarily aimed at identifying the changes that individual parties proposed in the immigration policy of the new government.

The analysis of the content of the election programs showed that most German political parties advocated a tougher stance on migration policy, including increased controls on incoming economic migrants and refugees, a more effective deportation process, and, above all, a halt to the arrival of illegal immigrants (referred to as irregular). The influx of a qualified workforce was viewed positively.
The summary highlights the most important elements of migration policy contained in the coalition agreement of the new government, which is composed of politicians from the Christian Democratic Union, the Christian Social Union, and the Social Democratic Party (SPD).