Four candidates are bidding to be Germany’s next leader in Sunday’s election. The would-be chancellors are the incumbent, the opposition leader, the current vice chancellor and — for the first time — a leader of a far-right party.

Under election law, parties must obtain a minimum of 5% of second (party) votes before it can claim representation in parliament. First introduced in 1953, this law was "intended to prevent tiny splinter parties" from getting into parliament "and fragmenting it, making it hard to form a viable majority", said DW.

As Germany's elections draw near, citizens put four chancellor candidates under intense scrutiny. Key topics included immigration and alleged U.S. election interference. Watch the highlights of this critical debate as voters prepare for the polls.

Germany faces an existential election next Sunday for the future of the country, in the context of a significant advance of the far right, an economy that is heading into a third year of recession and huge geopolitical challenges that have caused a situation of uncertainty unprecedented in recent decades.