1998 German Federal Election

The 1998 German federal election determined the composition of the Bundestag, Germany's lower house of parliament. Chancellor Helmut Kohl's Christian Democratic Union (CDU/CSU) coalition aimed to extend its governance, but the Social Democratic Party (SPD), led by Gerhard Schröder, gained significant support, resulting in a narrow victory for the SPD. This election marked a political shift, ending Kohl's 16-year chancellor tenure and initiating Schröder’s chancellorship. It reflected public desire for reforms, economic change, and modernized policies, leading to a new government coalition and setting the course for Germany’s future policies.