This chapter analyzes the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Germany’s political landscape leading up to the 2021 Bundestag election.
After evaluating decision-making and communication in the German federal system over the course of the crisis, the article comes to the conclusion that despite its profound societal impact, COVID-19 did not dominate the 2021 German federal election (as had been feared / expected). Data from opinion polls show that voters prioritized future challenges over recent crises, highlighting the dynamic nature of electoral concerns.