Read the video transcript here
Sven Matterne, insurance broker
"I hope that the next Chancellor won't continue like this and will try a little more."
Hannah Hoffmann, teacher
"I am very much looking forward to a change."
Andreas Müller, pensioner
"I have three grandchildren and I wish them a happy life under the same conditions as I experienced them."
Chancellor Angela Merkel was in the spotlight for 16 years - now the incumbent is no longer running.
And who follows her is completely open.
An important reason for this: Many voters no longer put their crosses with the same party, but make more frequent decisions.
In this report, we talk to swing voters about the reasons.
What is exciting is that the desire for change is particularly great with this choice. The majority of Germans, 55% in fact, would like a different federal government. 29 percent are undecided, only 16% would not find a change of government a good thing. On our tour through Germany we want to find out: Which topics move people?
Visit in Wedel in Schleswig-Holstein, near Hamburg, we have an appointment with Andreas Müller.
The 67-year-old retired teacher had chosen Angela Merkel in the last federal election - mainly because of her refugee policy in 2015.
Angela Merkel, Federal Chancellor
"We have achieved so much, we can do it."
Andreas Müller, pensioner
"We can do it" - these three words are really the decisive point. That wasn't primarily a prediction, at least I didn't understand it that way, it was a request. And we were all spoken to, it was possible close."
But with Merkel's departure, Müller turns away from the CDU.
He is now voting for the first time at the federal level, and has even become a party member.
Andreas Müller, pensioner
»That is
a party that is the only party to tackle the challenge of climate change as an absolute priority and the others avoid it.
And that's why I believe that this party is the only one that can be elected at the moment based on my basic convictions. "
In the fight against the climate crisis, Müller is also trying to change his own life in very specific ways: He does without the car as much as possible, eats a meat-free and partially vegan diet.
His main motivation: the future of his three grandchildren.
Andreas Müller, pensioner
»In this picture we see ourselves in nature.
And of course, I would like the dyke to hold, to take that as an example.
And I hope that extreme weather events don't become so much more common.
Actually, it should go on as before.
But in order for it to continue as before, a lot has to change.
That is the crucial point and many have not yet understood it. "
Andreas Müller's target group is particularly focused on the Greens in this election.
This is shown, among other things, by the party's TV commercial, which is specifically aimed at the 60-plus generation.
The upswing of the Greens is of course at the expense of other parties. A government WITHOUT a strong participation of the Greens is very unlikely this time around. In the past, on the other hand, it was certain that the SPD and CDU mainly steer political events in Germany. For decades, the two parties were able to unite around 75% of the votes. But these clear times are over.
We are in the Ruhr area, where the Social Democrats once achieved dream results.
Sven Matterne lives in Bochum and has been a loyal SPD voter for decades.
But on September 26, the insurance broker will make a different decision for the first time.
Disappointed him:
»That the SPD has actually lost its grip on employees. We see that because, despite many reforms, the gap between rich and poor has widened much more. "
As a pension advisor, the subject of social security in old age was particularly important to Matterne.
He even joined the SPD to work on the pension concept.
But Matterne thinks the basic pension, which was passed by the grand coalition in July 2020, is far too low.
“That led to a complete break in me. I started as a pension advisor because of the basic pension and I know that many pensioners now receive an average of 75 euros more. A pensioner feels charred and kidnapped. "
To withdraw from politics in frustration is out of the question for Matterne.
He found his new political home with the "Free Voters".
Here he would like to bring back his expertise on the subject of pensions.
»Politics must be made from within the municipalities. This is where the people are and this is where they are determined. Here politics is made by the citizens' associations, here everyone takes part in the election program and that's a good thing. "
The fact that the SPD has lost regular left voters like Sven Matterne is a development that has a lot to do with Chancellor Schröder's Hartz reforms.
Gerhard Schröder, Federal Chancellor 1998 - 2005
"We will cut government services and demand personal responsibility and have to demand more personal contribution from each individual."
“We are the people. Away with Harzt IV «
Many supporters have never forgiven the SPD for the so-called »Agenda 2010«.
Since Gerhard Schröder took office, the SPD's election results have halved.
Shortly before the election, the three parties are close together, and Armin Laschet has so far not been able to build on the popularity of his predecessor. The CDU is fighting with catastrophic values around 20%. The SPD has surprisingly caught up in the last few weeks and is now leading the polls. After flying high in May, the Greens level off at well below 20%. In the end, the FDP may benefit from this.
We are visiting the Kiel Fjord, on the beach we meet Hanna Hoffmann, 32 years old and a teacher.
She was elected CDU for a long time, but has been a member of the FDP for three years.
Hanna Hoffmann, teacher
»I already have respect for what Angela Merkel has achieved, but I think it is now time for a change.
We have arrived in a new era where digitization, technologies, innovation and also the educational landscape must change with a promising future.
And I think that the Free Democrats can lay a good foundation there. "
As a young woman, Hoffmann stands out in the FDP: The Free Democrats cannot get rid of their image of a men's group, only one in five party members is female.
The 32-year-old finds her issues well represented at the FDP.
Hanna Hoffmann
»
What is women-friendly, for example, is the aspect of egg donation. This is something that the Free Democrats really want to be able to donate eggs in Germany. There are many couples with reproductive impairment, for example, or lesbian couples, where one person might want to donate the egg, but the other would like to carry the child to term. And I think it's great that we are committed to egg donation. We are also in favor of a sperm donation. So that's a form of equality. Let's say on a cellular level, which speaks strongly in favor of femininity.
«
Twice a week Hoffmann is currently trying to convince people at the election booth in Kiel of the FDP - and that the party will not shirk government responsibility this time.
Hanna Hoffmann
»We can't afford not to join a government coalition again.
We pointed out important issues.
The people have taken a very, very big step towards us and we want to rule. "
The hanging game from 2017 should not be repeated.
At that time, the CDU, Greens and FDP negotiated for weeks about a possible coalition - until Christian Lindner suddenly broke the talks.
Christian Lindner, FDP
"We have decided: it is better not to govern than to govern wrongly."
But which coalitions are even possible after September 26 is - as of now - still completely unclear. The outcome of an election has seldom been so unpredictable.
